In memory of Father Charles Gaillard

Charles is ordained to the diaconate
by Bishop Howard
July 1986

Charles Gaillard originally came from St Lucia in the West Indies. He was ordained to the permanent diaconate by Bishop Howard in July 1986 at Saint James the Great, Peckham Rye, where he became a popular and effective member of the parish team. He also ministered to the wider West Indian community. He was the first West Indian permanent deacon in Britain.

He became convinced that he had a vocation to the priesthood and was accepted for his home diocese of Castries in St Lucia. He completed his training at the Mill Hill Missionary Institute and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Kelvin Felix, Archbishop of Castries, on 8th September 1993.

On 31st December 2000, Father Charles was offering a New Year's Eve Mass for more than 400 people at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Castries. Two men entered and attacked the worshippers. Father Charles was doused with petrol and set alight. He suffered third-degree burns and a collapsed lung and was flown to the nearby island of Martinique for treatment.

Two died in the attack and at least twelve others were hospitalised for wounds and burns.

Father Charles returned to St Lucia for a short time but died of a heart attack in April 2001.

May he rest in peace.