Former Manchester Bishop John B. McCormack, whose years as head of the New Hampshire church were plagued by the priest-abuse sex scandal, was laid to rest Tuesday in a ceremony witnessed by hundreds.

The 1 1/2-hour ceremony included dozens of priests clad in white vestments and 11 bishops, including Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the archbishop of McCormack’s native Boston. McCormack died Sept. 21 at the age of 86.

His open casket was at the front of the church, just below the altar where he held sway for 13 years.

The lifelong friend of McCormack who eulogized him said he and fellow priests ministered in the dark times of the priest sexual abuse scandal.

“Like so many priests and bishops, Bishop John came slowly to realize what had happened,” said the Rev. John MacInnis, pastor at St. John and St. Thomas churches in Peabody, Mass. But McCormack eventually acknowledged the scandal and…