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Bless Me, Father
(Bless Me, Father #1)
by
The inspiration for the hit London Weekend Television series of the same name, this is one confessional you’ll want to make a point of visiting
Young Neil Boyd has just finished divinity school and has been newly ordained as a priest. His first post? St. Jude’s parish, a corner of London with a raucous congregation full of Irish immigrants. The flock is an odd pairing with ...more
Young Neil Boyd has just finished divinity school and has been newly ordained as a priest. His first post? St. Jude’s parish, a corner of London with a raucous congregation full of Irish immigrants. The flock is an odd pairing with ...more
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ebook, 217 pages
Published
March 24th 2015
by Open Road Media
(first published 1977)
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Start your review of Bless Me, Father
A (fictional) humourous look at the priestly ministry in the 50's through the eyes of newly ordained Fr. Neil and for his first posting is sent to St. Jude's parish in London. There he meets the parish priest Fr. Duddleswell, a 'crafty & cantankerous' personality full of witticisms that cause me no end of chuckles. Together they minister to the mostly Irish congregation and along with their housekeeper Mrs. Pring (who is always at odds with Fr. Duddleswell to comic effect) paints a light hearted
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Father Duddleswell, is a priest, who is a plump mischievous little man, with a glint in his eye, and Father Boyd his new Parish Priest, along with house keeper Mrs Pring, Bless me Father will have you laughing out loud. If you enjoyed James Herriot's Vet books, you will love these. They did make a TV series based on them, with Arthur Lowe as Father Duddleswell, well worth watching, and just as funny as the books.
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A young Catholic priest in a small diocese for his first assignment in mid-century London. Comedic chapter-stories rather than a plotted novel, but fascinating both historically and religiously - and drolly funny to boot.
Yes, even though I'm not a religious person, I have a soft spot for priests, especially if they're amusing or solve mysteries. The author of this book, and a handful of sequels, was at one time a priest and theology prof, back in the 1950s. So he has a great deal of first-hand experience in the milieu.
Briefly, the narrator is a young English priest, freshly ordained, who is assigned to a parish with an older and rounder Irish priest (Fr Duddleswell) and the housekeeper (Mrs Pring). (These two ar ...more
Briefly, the narrator is a young English priest, freshly ordained, who is assigned to a parish with an older and rounder Irish priest (Fr Duddleswell) and the housekeeper (Mrs Pring). (These two ar ...more
Hilarious British humor-laced story.
The best one is when the old priest gets a clip on microphone and forgets to shut it off in the confessional.
Shenanigans in the clerical's robe.
Fr Neil Boyd, a young priest in his first parish of St Jude's, needs to have all his wits next to him when put under the wings of eccentric older priest Fr Duddleswell and their housekeeper Mrs. Pring.
A cheek-in-tongue kind of stories. Sometimes witty, sometimes naughty. Being Catholic myself, I laughed a lot, the British deadpan humour is catchy. But I can't help myself to think that the book intends more to be witty for the sake of the witty.
I laughed, but al ...more
Fr Neil Boyd, a young priest in his first parish of St Jude's, needs to have all his wits next to him when put under the wings of eccentric older priest Fr Duddleswell and their housekeeper Mrs. Pring.
A cheek-in-tongue kind of stories. Sometimes witty, sometimes naughty. Being Catholic myself, I laughed a lot, the British deadpan humour is catchy. But I can't help myself to think that the book intends more to be witty for the sake of the witty.
I laughed, but al ...more
This goes down as my find of the year. I think if you are British, you are much more likely to have heard of these, and I believe they were turned into a TV show. But on this side of the pond, they seem relatively unknown.
I only heard about this book because of a BookBub email, which included a blurb by James Herriot saying how much he liked these books, and how similar they were to his books. So, I went ahead and got the whole five book set on Kindle. Boy, am I glad that I did.
We all need some ...more
I only heard about this book because of a BookBub email, which included a blurb by James Herriot saying how much he liked these books, and how similar they were to his books. So, I went ahead and got the whole five book set on Kindle. Boy, am I glad that I did.
We all need some ...more
This is the first in a series about a Catholic priest stationed in Ireland. I thought it might be a little like the series by Jan Karon about an Episcopal priest in the US, but it is quite different. Well, the same in that it chronicles events in the life of each priest, but different in the way each priest is different. The Episcopal priest, Fr. Tim, is a lovely man, lots of friends, kind to all-even if he doesn't always feel like being kind. The Catholic priest, Fr. Duddleswell, is a bit of a
...more
A beautiful and humorous portrayal of life in the presbytery.
Each character is candidly portrayed-and the relationships therein are amazing. I know from experience that this is what happens in a typical presbytery-affectionate heroine-housekeepers, easygoing curates and parish priests bound by seminary years and the sacred collar. A beautiful, beautiful read!!!
The real hero in this book for me is Mrs Pring, the housekeeper-how she's so welcoming towards the curate, how she's loyal to the parish ...more
Each character is candidly portrayed-and the relationships therein are amazing. I know from experience that this is what happens in a typical presbytery-affectionate heroine-housekeepers, easygoing curates and parish priests bound by seminary years and the sacred collar. A beautiful, beautiful read!!!
The real hero in this book for me is Mrs Pring, the housekeeper-how she's so welcoming towards the curate, how she's loyal to the parish ...more
The first in the series, Bless Me, Father introduces us to mainstay characters and Father Neil's starting point in his ordained duties at St. Jude's. I have been reading the books a bit out of order, and it didn't really hurt the enjoyment of the books that followed. In fact, Boyd's narrative skills grow in time. This book is humorous and describes events to be later referenced in the sequels, but it doesn't have quite the fulsomeness and exuberance of the later novels. But, hey, you have to sta
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Father Neil Boyd has just been ordained and is assigned as a curate for St. Jude's Parish. St Jude's is a parish full of characters and Irish immigrants. The pastor himself, Father Duddleswell is among those characters. But he knows how to deal with his fellow Irishmen et al. Neil Boyd will have you laughing as you get a glimpse of the church pre Vatican II. Bless Me Father will tickle your funny bone and make you realize how far we've come.
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Newly ordained Catholic priest, Neil Boyd, an Englishman, finds himself assigned to a parish in a London suburb under the tutelage of an Irish Monsignor in the early 1950's. Those of us who remember the Latin Mass and the pre-Vatican II church will enjoy some of the old references. Others may have to be content with the delightful depiction of life in a rectory, life in a small parish. The problems are all too human, the resolutions often hilarious.
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The first book in the “Bless me Father” series. The young pastor joins the older and more senior Father in the congregation. He is a real rascal. And his interactions with the congregation leads to many laugh out loud moments. Just think of his antics with the Doomsday chair. Just the thing to read in these dreary and depressing covid-19 days.
This book was marginally entertaining for me. A young priest at his first posting under the tutelage of an age I would aging priest. Not sure what was missing for me. Maybe simply an epectation of hilarity.
A very entertaining read. I love how the author creates the scene and then makes you smile with the antics he puts his characters into.
The parish priest is the standout character throughout, but the other characters are no less enticing.
The parish priest is the standout character throughout, but the other characters are no less enticing.
Sometimes a little hard to understand due to British phrases....
Sometimes hilarious!
Sometimes hilarious!
Jolly journey with two catholic priests. Amusing, but interesting that the author, himself a priest, left the ministry eventually.
Very entertaining
I enjoyed this book great for light quick read. I actually laughed out loud and it takes something really funny to get that from me.
I enjoyed this book great for light quick read. I actually laughed out loud and it takes something really funny to get that from me.
Sep 26, 2019
Alicia
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review of another edition
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A great before-bed read since each chapter is its own story. They are pleasant and humorous stories.
Charming. I needed a light read to start the year.
Great job.
This book was humorous, a light read, and was written so each chapter is a different story. This was nice because I could just read here and there easily.
I remember really enjoying the British series based on these stories. Came across this and thought it would be fun. It was. Story of a young curate and the crusty but living old pastor in the 50s.
This is a re-release of a book that inspired a hit BBC comedy in Great Britain. I adore that part of the world and have been known to enjoy various BBC sitcoms. So, reading this book, I expected hilarity to ensue with dry, British humor, and I was not disappointed. I laughed out loud and I don’t think I stopped smiling from the first page!
The book played out like a television series, so it is not surprising that it later was made into one. Each chapter was very episodic, introducing a new confli ...more
The book played out like a television series, so it is not surprising that it later was made into one. Each chapter was very episodic, introducing a new confli ...more
This was a thoroughly delightful book and one of the funniest books I have ever read. It is full of British humour, which I find myself partial to. The amusement is not diminished in the least by the fact that the setting is in the 1950s. I understand there are several sequels and I will be anxiously adding those to my reading list.
This is the story of a young curate in his first posting. Father Neil is in his first assignment as a new priest, serving with the church pastor, and old and cantankerous but lovable Father Duddleswell. The book highlights those events/episodes the young Father Neil encounters during his early years as a priest. I realize, based on the book blurb, that this was a popular book and became the basis for a popular sitcom series in Britain, but I am not sure how this will be received in the US. The c
...more
I have always loved British comedy television shows dating earlier than 2000 and there is apparently a show based on Neil Boyd's Bless Me, Father but I haven't seen it. I want to, having read the book.
The story of Father Neil Boyd, the author's name is a pen name, who is recently graduated from the seminary and assigned to Father Duddleswell's parish. Father Neil becomes the sort of watcher of events. He isn't the most interesting character in the book - Father Duddleswell is, especially when he ...more
The story of Father Neil Boyd, the author's name is a pen name, who is recently graduated from the seminary and assigned to Father Duddleswell's parish. Father Neil becomes the sort of watcher of events. He isn't the most interesting character in the book - Father Duddleswell is, especially when he ...more
I thought Neil Boyd's humorous stories about a young curate and his priestly mentor were just what I needed to counter some of the deeper, darker stuff I've been reading. But I didn't find it as entertaining or funny as many others have. While I'm very "eh" about this one, please keep in mind that the Father Boyd series has been keeping people in stitches for decades and was made into a BBC sitcom. There is a very good chance that I'm the anomaly and this is exactly what the doctor ordered if yo
...more
One of a series of books about Catholic priests.
Father Neil goes for his first curacy to Father Duddleswell, a bad-tempered but kind elderly priest. Humorous situations arise as Father Neil learns about his job and the people in the parish. Gentle fun poked at the traditions of the Catholic Church, and some of the people in it.
Father Neil goes for his first curacy to Father Duddleswell, a bad-tempered but kind elderly priest. Humorous situations arise as Father Neil learns about his job and the people in the parish. Gentle fun poked at the traditions of the Catholic Church, and some of the people in it.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Catholic priest Irish (?) funny novel series [s] | 9 | 99 | Jan 31, 2009 06:48PM |
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
pseudonym of Peter de Rosa ...more
pseudonym of Peter de Rosa ...more
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Bless Me, Father
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