Obituary: Father Peter Lessiter

Editor’s note: during the chaotic years immediately after the Second Vatican Council, an unprecedented number of priests left their vocations, many in order to marry. A few left their parishes for a different reason: in order to minister the sacraments in their traditional form to those of the Catholic faithful who wanted them. During the 1970s and 1980s in particular, when the work of the Latin Mass Society was very restricted, these ‘independent’ priests were found here and there around the country. The best known was Fr Peter Lessiter, based in the South West of England. The author of this obituary, Fr Peter Morgan, was the first District Superior of the SSPX in Great Britain, 1971-1980.

Peter Edward Lessiter was born on 1 May 1934 in Glasgow. After school he trained as a schoolmaster, having received his Diploma in Education from the University of London. He only taught for a short while, as he had been thinking of the priesthood since boyhood. In 1958 Father was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Southwark and spent the next years at St John’s College, Wonersh. He was ordained priest on 12 June 1964 and served as a curate at Chatham. His great friend (who remained a friend for life) was Father Alan Wilders (RIP) who was serving as a curate in the next parish at Rochester.

After some time, Father Lessiter w as transferred to St Osmund’s, Barnes where he served as a cur ate until 1973. It is interesting to note that Father was a seminarian all through those years, 1958-64, the time of the preparation f or Vatican II and the years of the Council itself; he was ordained just before the Council ended. He became increasingly unhappy with the way things were going. The big red light came to him in 1968 w hen the form of the sacraments was revised and he never came to terms with the reformed rite for the consecration of bishops. The last straw for him was the Novus Or do Missae , which came about in Advent of 1969.

He first visited me in 1973, when I was living in Sanderstead, and continued to visit for about a year, often bringing Father Wilders with him.

Very bravely, in 1973, he left Barnes and the conciliar reforms and threw himself into the arms of Divine Providence. There was a time when he thought of joining SSPX, but he was in many ways too independent for that, although he always kept in touch with them and became a regular visitor at Highclere.

Over the next years Father was in contact with many people and established a network of small centres all over the UK. He loved people, got on well with them, and had a way of converting people to the Faith. He never let a nyone down. He looked after these people spiritually for 40 years! He would, at the drop of a hat, drive to West Wales, the West Country, London, the Midlands the North and to Scotland and Ireland, to give the last rites, to visit hospitals, to baptise and to officiate at funerals or whatever people needed for their spiritual health. Father was always there.

He had a great love of children and young people and helped many while he was living in Leicester and particularly when he went to live in Axminster, where he organised summer camps for the young. Very often there would be 30- 40 young people who received excellent catechetical instruction. Many, now adults, speak with great fondness of their time at these camps. Some of his children are now priests and religious.

His move to Axminster was an important time in his priesthood as he wished to establish a congregation of religious sisters. This never fully happened, although several sisters did establish themselves at Mount Carmel in Axminster and continue to live a form of the religious life. Sadly, Father became ill and his health deteriorated over the last eight or nine years. However, Divine Providence was always there. These sisters were able to look after Father with much love and care until the end of his life. They did a wonderful work. Father received the last rites from a priest who had been ordained by Archbishop Lefebvre, the holy oil used had been blessed by the Archbishop. Father Lessiter died peacefully on the Nativity of Our Lord, 8 September at home , Mount Carmel, surrounded by the Sisters. Following the funeral rites, he was buried in the town cemetery in Axminster.

May he rest in peace. Amen.