A Father Before Christmas

Bless Me, Father #2

by Neil Boyd

From the series that inspired the hit London Weekend Television sitcom Bless Me, Father: At St. Jude’s, silent nights are rare indeed

The holiday season is among the most hectic times at St. Jude’s, and this one is no exception. As always, Father Neil has his hands full with the gleefully domineering, scheming Father Duddleswell, who has devised a fresh plan for this coming Christmas: invite all the other sects of Christianity to celebrate with them. The plan quickly unravels when two religious leaders from another denomination try to convert Father Neil and a clock goes missing from the mantelpiece. When the church collection disappears, it becomes abundantly clear that this will be no ordinary Christmas.
 
Taken from the author’s actual experiences after completing seminary, A Father Before Christmas is a fun and family-friendly romp through a bygone era with a winning cast of characters you will want to visit again and again. Boyd’s well-crafted vignettes of the Christmas season make this a holiday present worth opening early.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Christmas, Christian, Catholic

323 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

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

pseudonym of Peter de Rosa

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second installment pickling right up from the first. Again a chapter book more than a novel, but more introspective and philosophical than the first, although without losing any of the humor or period detail

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series, and another set of pleasant, drôle diversions. These eleven stories take place through the late summer and autumn season, leading up to Christmas and midnight mass.

The stories are full of the familiar banter between Fr Duddleswell and Mrs Pring, as told from Fr Boyd's viewpoint. One of the stories could certainly be considered (at least) mildly offensive along racial lines, but was probably somewhat naïvely obvlious at the time of writing; it involves a hospital stay and a foreign patient.

One of the later stories has some raciness involved as a young Catholic nurse is getting set to wed a non-Catholic who comes across as something of a hip liberal agnostic. Fr Boyd has dinner with the pair, and of course the conversation involves all the traditional Catholic attitudes/teachings about sex.

[patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Father Before Christmas is funny and endearing.. Neil Boyd and Father Duddleswell as part of an ecumenical service in the fifties. Missing money from the church. Neil Boyd continues the story of himself.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m reading these in the omnibus Kindle edition but felt I needed to write at the end of each novel. These stories from the early 1950s in England seem to get better and better. This book starts where the first book leaves off in the fall of 1950. Father Neil Boyd is making his way through his first year as a Roman Catholic priest acting as the curate for St. Jude’s parish, learning from his boss and head priest Father Duddleswell. It’s definitely a learning curve for him but he’s making progress. The best part about this series is that it is so very funny! There are parts that I just start laughing out loud. I’m learning things too so that this Methodist was able to answer a Jeopardy question about the Rosary being prayed by Catholics in October :-).

[Theunis Snyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A laugh out loud book. There is the scheming and devious Father of the congregation, his housekeeper and the young curate. The Father and the housekeeper are always at loggerheads with each other and this causes some delightful dialogue. Mix this with some curious parishioners and other characters and you get some really funny situations. Its amazing how the Father can twist the teachings and the ceremonies of the Church to suit his own ends. There are eleven stories in this book and only the last one is about Christmas. I will certainly buy the other books in this series. Its just what we need to drive the blues away.

[Kathleen Herb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read some Christmas books, so I found this, about a parish priest in England. It was cute, but a little slow. Lots or short, heartwarming stories about incidents in the parish, plus a sequence at the end, where the priest plays a joke on the pastor, which just about falls flat. But it’s a “harmless” book, if not terribly stimulating. I don’t think I’m going to go after the next books in the series.

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Father Neil, Father Duddleswell and the poor housekeeper Mrs Pring are back.
If you need a book that will have you laughing out loud, then this is it.
Church is supposed to be, a place of worship, and so it is, but as Neil Boyd shows us in his books, It's also a place for humour, A bit sad, as I only have a few more to read..

[Evan Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another very enjoyable book in this series. This one actually delved into more sticky moral and theological questions than the first I'd say, but managed to do so with grace and humor. Really loving these books.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow read

This book feels like it is written in an earlier time than it is. Pace is slow. By the end you do come to know and care for the characters, however the only mention of Christmas in this book is in the last chapter

[Eva B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the great wealth of affectionate insults....

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts really got into the Catholic faith and other times it was light and funny. I would say a 3.5 for me.

[Paula Werne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

Just the ticket for this time of pandemic. Lighthearted, sweet, funny, and truly good. I hope to read the complete series.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun read!

Delightful humor and memorable characters. Each chapter is a treasure that makes me wish for more. Will definitely read more additions to the series.

[Sonia Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

This book had me laughing from the beginning. The things fathers do is kind of an insight of some truths.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light hearted, slyly comic. A good break from more serious fare :-)

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so it's slightly dated, but still a jolly good read with some laugh-out-loud bits, especially if you're clergy! :-)

[Alice Leak · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5* from me

[Ladie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this as much as the first in the series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, lighthearted, holiday romp!

I enjoyed this story very much. At first I struggled with it. It was entirely due to the fact that with the holidays I was not able to give reading my full attention. Once I did, I was able to enjoy the delightful tongue in cheek humor. The young, just out of seminary Father Neil, and the cantankerous, scheming Father Duddlesmith were portrayed as both loveable, and hilarious.. This book is one of a series that was turned into a comedy for BBC in the early 1980's. I can see how the daily lives and interaction with their parishioners would work well as a comedy. If I had any caution about recommending this book it would be that a lot of the humor is geared towards Catholics. However, you do not have to be a Catholic to enjoy these two endearing priests as they trip their way through the rituals and the ups and downs of everyday life. 3.5 stars!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another set of humorous short stories about the young Roman Catholic priest Father Neil. In this book he learns about women and life, in his curacy with Father Duddleswell. Light and somewhat amusing in places.

[BRT]

A memoir of his time as a priest in England, this is a trip down memory lane for me as well. It brings back all the familiarity of the religion I grew up with as well as its quirkiness. The senior priest is a humorous study in Irish-ness.

[Patricia Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest books I have ever read. This book and others in the series have been converted to a television series in England. Neil Boyd = Peter deSousa.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love these gentle, funny stories with a bit of what Christianity should be--a story of love for others.