festivities

Father Charles Leteux 1897-1920

Father Charles Leteux, born in France, was a political refugee after the Franco/Prussian War(1871-79) who came to live in Yorkshire and went to Ushaw College where he was ordained priest on the 7th October 1888.
after curacies at St. Marie's, Sheffield (1888-1896) and St Mary's Halifax (1896-1897).
He was appointed parish priest of Hemsworth on 20th August 1897. At the begining of his ministry in Hemsworth he was not liked by the people, but gradually he won them over, as he was aproachable to all peoples, and eventually he became a much- loved priest. Just a little example: during the 1914-18 war he visited the home of every soldier who was killed during the war, regardless of their faith and religion.
© Eileen OReilly