Who is Father Defoy from Sharpe's Christmas and what is their importance?

Father Defoy is the priest at the church in Segligese. The Father likes Sharpe and thinks Malan is lazy. None-the-less, when Sharpe asks the villagers for assistance, the priest helps him by organizing and leading a choir of carolers that go to sing outside of Chateau Lassan. Their caroling serves as a distraction for Lorcet's men and disguises the noise of Sharpe and Malan breaking window in the attic, so they can rescue Lucille, Patrick and Marie.