"The Priest and the Acolyte" by John Francis Bloxam is a late 1800s novella exploring themes of forbidden love and internal moral struggle inside the walls of the church, highlighting the complicated, secretive relationship between a priest and his young assistant. Set in a period of rigid traditions, where certain relationships were heavily condemned, the story follows Priest Ronald Heatherington as he wrestles with his growing feelings for Wilfred, his beautiful 14-year-old acolyte. Their deepening connection results in moments of intense intimacy that challenge the priest's dedication to his religious duties and societal expectations. They secretly navigate their passionate relationship, experiencing both joy and torment, but their closeness soon attracts unwanted attention. It all dramatically unfolds when the outside world threatens to destroy them, leading to a tragic climax that calls into question the essence of love, sin, and fierce society's condemnation within a world of religious devotion.
The Priest and the Acolyte With an Introductory Protest by Stuart Mason
By John Francis Bloxam
In a time of strict religious expectations, a priest and his young acolyte risk everything for a secret, forbidden love tested by society’s cruel judgment.
Summary
About the Author
John Francis Bloxam (1873–1928) was an English Uranian author and churchman. Bloxam was an undergraduate at Exeter College, Oxford when his story, "The Priest and the Acolyte", appeared in the sole issue of The Chameleon: a Bazaar of Dangerous and Smiling Chances, a periodical which he also served as editor. The story details the love affair of a young Anglican priest and his lover, a 14-year-old boy. The affair, when discovered, triggers a suicide pact of both priest and boy. A poem, A Summer Hour, also with pederastic themes, appeared in The Artist. The contents of The Chameleon, which also included Lord Alfred Douglas's notorious poem Two Loves, would be used against Oscar Wilde in his trial. Bloxam was a convert to Anglo-Catholicism, and became a priest.
John Francis Bloxam (1873–1928) was an English Uranian author and churchman. Bloxam was an undergraduate at Exeter College, Oxford when his story, "The Priest and the Acolyte", appeared in the sole issue of The Chameleon: a Bazaar of Dangerous and Smiling Chances, a periodical which he also served as editor. The story details the love affair of a young Anglican priest and his lover, a 14-year-old boy. The affair, when discovered, triggers a suicide pact of both priest and boy. A poem, A Summer Hour, also with pederastic themes, appeared in The Artist. The contents of The Chameleon, which also included Lord Alfred Douglas's notorious poem Two Loves, would be used against Oscar Wilde in his trial. Bloxam was a convert to Anglo-Catholicism, and became a priest.
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