Bless Me, Father

Bless Me, Father #1

by Neil Boyd

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 the gentle Father Boyd, but he just might be both mad enough and tender enough to get through to them.
 
Later adapted into a beloved British sitcom, Bless Me, Father is a humorous and sweet-natured look at Catholicism in the 1950s. Joining Boyd is the cantankerous, scheming, and brilliant Father Duddleswell, a man who is willing to do anything to make sure the Lord’s will be done, and Mrs. Pring, the sharp-tongued housekeeper who both coddles and cajoles her priestly family of two. If the church needs money, Duddleswell will place a bet to get it. If a Catholic wants to marry a Protestant . . . well, maybe he won’t go that far.
 
Father Neil’s adventures with his parishioners are sure to delight readers of all creeds.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Christian, British Literature, Classics, Book Club, Catholic

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

pseudonym of Peter de Rosa

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious; the characters in this one always manage to say the perfect thing at the perfect time. If you read this (and you should), always pay attention to the details, as the author is quite good at returning to ideas mentioned earlier in the book.

As to my favorite bits... I loved the whole thing. The incident with the Hoover was hysterical (especially to me, an ignorant Protestant *shhh*) and also the swimming contest chapter. The characters are what makes this book so wonderfully funny. Mrs. Pring and Fr Duddleswell in particular are the best; their never-ending battle of wits and wills is such good comedy.
Definitely recommended, especially to fans of All Creatures Great and Small.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Father Duddleswell is one of the funniest characters I’ve come across in ages. He is somehow honest and dishonest at the same time. He is a confidence trickster in priest’s clothing and yet you could never call him less than devout. My favorite chapter is when Father D and Father Neil take part in a swimming competition. I literally spent the whole chapter giggling helplessly.

Father D spends most of the book either verbally sparring with his housekeeper Mrs Pring or outwitting his parishioners with his wily ways. There are so many funny turns of phrase. I’m not sure I could handle him as my parish priest but he leaps off the page with hilarious clarity.

I love the affection that grows between Father D and his straight man Father Neil. This is very much like an All Creatures Great and Small transposed to a London Catholic parish with parishioners instead of animals and their owners. Father D is very much a Siegfried — abounding with energy, irascible, sparkling, scheming, and brilliant with people. Father Neil is like a James — conscientious, young, and under the care of a startling, exasperating, and amusing employer.

Definitely reading on in this series! I need more Father Duddleswell schemes to keep life interesting.

[Sara J. (kefuwa) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 book. It is full of the British humour that I find so endearing, with 11 short stories in this first book and I was not surprised to find out that it was made into a television series (it certainly read like one).

Disclaimer: Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Terris · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny! I'd love to see the 1970's BBC sitcom. I think it would be very good! :)

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading the series as an omnibus that Goodreads only counts as one book and believe me, this year I need all the help I can get. Without getting too much into the dirty details, I have been finding it difficult to read. Family issues have me mentally exhausted and back pain makes my physically exhausted. I'm 23 books behind my original goal, so I'm going to change it to a more realistic-for-this-year number.

Now, the book. I'm a Protestant Christian, but I appreciate the religious humor nonetheless. I enjoyed it a lot and I immediately dove right into book 2.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 are constantly sparring and sniping like the proverbial old married couple.) The book is nicely episodic with each chapter constituting a more-or-less stand-alone short-story. Thus, it lends itself well to reading in short sessions while standing in the queue for the bus, train, confession, or what have you. It didn't strike me as utterly hilarious, but was generally pleasant and drôle throughout. The humor is all rather clean-cut and mild, centered around goings-on in the parish community, and basically suitable for all ages. (Definitely not like the Vicar of Dibley.) Thanks to Open Road Media for bringing out the digital omnibus edition of Boyd's works.

I liked this well enough to keep the sequels on tap.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious British humor-laced story.

[Carla Costa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I genuinely laughed out loud while reading this, and I thought it was the funniest memoir... But about halfway through I found out it was fiction. I wish I had known from the beginning, because I think I would still have enjoyed it.

[Janka H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 also I've shaken my head once or twice. And once I was quite disturbed (the story 'Crumbs') as I think that some respect would be nice for things considered sacred.

[Evan Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 something to read just for pleasure. These books are definitely that. They have very vivid characters, peculiar and funny church-related scenarios, clever dialogue, and laugh-out loud scenes. The closest thing I can say about these books is that they are sort of like a cross between the All Creatures Great and Small books and PG Wodehouse in all the best kind of ways.

Not being a Catholic myself, I will never know quite how realistic some of the scenarios and occurrences actually are, and add to that the fact that things have changed a lot since the 1950s, but being a life-long serious church-goer myself (and a pastor's kid to boot), I need more humor where church is concerned.

If you need a new comfort book/series for the new year, may I warmly encourage you to try these books out.

[Tammie Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

And here I thought the only hilarious Catholic priests were the ones on Father Ted.

The basic premise of this slice-of-life is that Father Neil Boyd has just left divinity school and has been assigned to an Irish-filled part of London. He finds himself under the mentorship of wise-cracking, ever-scheming Father Duddleswell, and under the care of the sharp-tongued housekeeper Mrs Pring. And Father Boyd soon discovers there's a lot he didn't learn in divinity class.

Nearly every one of the stories in this narrative memoir had me cracking up. Both the comedy-of-errors situations Father Boyd and Father Duddleswell find themselves in, and the constant exchange of barbs between Father Duddleswell and Mrs Pring.

Each chapter is its own story (although the same characters pop up now and then), so you could dip in and out of the book as you like, but I think reading it in order lays the best foundation for the madcap humor and "characters".

Yes, the Catholic Church has had its serious issues, which might turn some off of this book. But you're able to set that aside and are looking for short bursts of giggling (and if you really love the goofy humor of Father Ted), you can't go wrong with Bless Me Father.

[Kathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 prickly pear. Nobody calls him by his first name, the housekeeper and he are at each other constantly, even though we do get the feeling it is a game of one-ups-manship between them most in fun. This series has been made into a tv series on BBC, so I get the impression that it is mostly for laughs on the order of "Are You Being Served" or "As Time Goes By". Anyway, I like Fr. Tim better, but I'm going to try to continue the Bless Me series to see if I warm to the characters. Wish me luck.

[Dean McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLESS ME, FATHER by Neil Boyd -- A humorous work of fiction, also likely part biographical. Father Neil is a newly ordained, young Catholic priest, fresh out of seminary. He is assigned to St Jude's, a small parish in London, where he serves with the older Father Duddleswell and their housekeeper, Mrs Pring. Each chapter tells the tale of a specific event in the parish, involving all three characters in lively and uproariously funny dialog and developments. All three are wonderful characters, their dialog lively and sharp. I found the chapter in which Father Neil and Father Duddleswell participate in an all-clergy swimming competition my favorite. A most enjoyable read, which I'll follow up with succeeding volumes.

[Muziwandile Mahlangu · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 priest, how she is the constant point of reference and support in that house. Those are some of the hidden heroines of Catholic priestly life-the housekeepers and cooks.

[Reading Fury · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 start somewhere. I enjoyed it but am actually glad this wasn't the first of the series I read.

[Joe Rodeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Father Boyd's first priestly assignment will be at an Irish ghetto in London in this hilarious autobiographical lampoon of Catholicism and all its elements. No sacred cows. (I embarrassed myself in public by laughing like a lunatic.)

Warning: If you don't believe in the fires of Hell, you still better wear asbestos.

Reading level: challenging. A good foundation in the Catholic religion will add much to the reader's enjoyment. Obscure words, UK slang, and latin phrases will have you guessing.

[patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sjervey · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Father Neil Boyd is given his first assignment after ordination as curate to Father Duddleswell, little does he know that he is entering the presence of comic genius. Set in 1950s London in an Irish immigrant neighborhood, this memoir is laugh out loud funny. Literally. I mean it. Whether offering gentle counsel or entering verbal combat with his housekeeper, Father Duddleswell and his hapless straight man/curate Father Boyd are constantly finding themselves in hilarious situations.

[Theunis Snyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[MaryAnn Lockey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of the Jan Karen Series

I really enjoyed this especially after I warmed to the characters. I am not Catholic so some of the references were vague but interesting to me. I see its a series and after taking a break will read another. I enjoy the human quirky characters of the town and clergy.

[Keith & · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irreverent but FUNNY

A very lighthearted series of stories. E-book was given to me by a friend, so I felt initially obliged to read it, but quickly fell under its spell of cynical whimsy.
My wife and I have long been fans of Jan Karon's Mitford series. This book is similar, but much more sarcastic.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Ryan Barretto · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Carol Wakefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventures ofa young newly ordained priest who is sent to a parish headed by a somewhat outrageous elderly priest. Will the pairing work? Well a young naive, likable soul will grow up a bit and a reader will thoroughly enjoy the process.

[Becky Marietta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, charming, hilarious--I laughed audibly several times and I could not always see the twist coming at the end of each story, which was fun. The characters were fantastic; give me a salty old priest with a deadly sense of humor every day to combat the weary falsities of this world, please!

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good cute book very lightweight read. The problem is its so lightweight it didnt inspire me to keep reading. I will read the next one at Christmas time but probably not any more than that. Nothing wrong with it, just didnt hold my interest

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I imagine that for people of certain age - born say 1920-1950, catholic and living in England - will find this a nostalgic and entertaining read.

I found the writing style rather boring, and the stories of little interest. But, I'm not a Catholic, and not of that era.

Over to you.