Fr Charles Acton
1943-2016

From the Westminster Record (February 2017)

The Honourable John Charles Acton, always known as Charles or Charlie, was born in January 1943 in Shropshire. He was the son of John, Third Baron Acton, and Daphne, née Strutt. Charles went to Allen Hall, St. Edmund’s College, Ware to study for the priesthood from 1962-65 before continuing his studies at the Venerable English College, Rome. Charles was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal William Heard at Palazolla on 14 July 1968.

Fr Charles was appointed Assistant Priest at Our Lady of Victories, Kensington 1969-71. Fr Charles returned to Rome for further studies in Sacred Theology, 1971-74. He was then appointed to Allen Hall as a member of the teaching staff until 1999. In 1992, Fr Charles was appointed to the International Theological Commission at the invitation of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. In November 2002 Fr Charles became a member of the Metropolitan Chapter, serving as Canon Theologian. In 2004 he was appointed Dean of Studies at Allen Hall and continued as a full-time member of the seminary staff until the summer of 2016.

He was a man of integrity who had a gentle sense of humour, a man of learning who was, above all, a gentleman and a diocesan priest dedicated to the teaching of theology. Canon Charles died peacefully on 25 December 2016 surrounded by his family.

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