St. Edmund's College, Ware
Encyclopedia
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
Roman Catholic school in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is an independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in the British public school tradition
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
set on 440 acres (1.8 km²) in Ware, Hertfordshire. During two periods of its history, it has also incorporated a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
.
Douay: 1568-1793
St. Edmund's College, the oldest CatholicRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
school in England, is a continuation on English soil of the English College that was founded by Cardinal William Allen at Douay
Douay
Douay can refer to:* Abel Douay , French general* Félix Douay , French general and brother of Abel Douay* Douay–Rheims Bible, an English translation of the Bible, c.1600* Douai, a commune in northern France...
in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
in 1568. Originally intended as a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
to prepare priests to work in England to keep Catholicism alive, it soon also became a boys' school for Catholics, who were debarred from having such institutions in England. Many of its students, both priests and laymen, returned to England to be put to death under the anti-Catholic laws. The College includes amongst its former alumni 20 canonised and 133 beatified martyrs.
Silkstead, Twyford, Standon & Old Hall Green: 1662-1793
In the second half of the 17th century, a small Catholic school was begun in Hampshire. It was opened by a priest at Silkstead prior to 1662, and then transferred to TwyfordTwyford, Hampshire
For other places of the same name, see Twyford.Twyford is a village and civil parish in Hampshire, England, approximately three miles south of Winchester and near the M3 motorway and Twyford Down. In 2001, the population of the parish was 1,456...
, near Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. It was conducted in great secrecy, and was for boys of preparatory school age, intending to proceed to the English College to complete more advanced studies. The poet Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
was a student at this school, although he did not proceed to Douay. Twyford was closed in 1745 on account of anti-Catholic feeling caused by the Jacobite rebellion, but Bishop Richard Challoner re-established the school in Hertfordshire at Standon Lordship in 1749, in a property owned by the Aston family. In 1769, Bishop James Talbot moved the school to its current site at Old Hall Green, near Puckeridge
Puckeridge
Puckeridge is a village in East Hertfordshire, England.The earliest settlers in the area were the Belgae, who arrived around 180 BC. A Roman town existed just to the north of the existing village and the village is at the cross roads of two major Roman roads, Ermine Street and Stane Street...
, and it became known as Old Hall Green Academy.
Old Hall Green: 1793 - present
The work of the English College in DouayDouay
Douay can refer to:* Abel Douay , French general* Félix Douay , French general and brother of Abel Douay* Douay–Rheims Bible, an English translation of the Bible, c.1600* Douai, a commune in northern France...
was brought to an end by the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. In October 1793 the College property was confiscated. Professors and students came back to England where, as a result of the Relief Acts, the penal laws against Catholics were considerably relaxed. John Douglass
John Douglass (bishop)
John Douglass was an English Roman Catholic prelate, Vicar Apostolic of the London District from 1790.-Life:He was born at Yarum, Yorkshire, in December 1743, and was sent at the age of thirteen to the English College, Douai. There he took the college oath in 1764, and defended universal divinity...
, Vicar Apostolic of the London District, realised that the time had come to replace the English College, and the earliest refugees joined the students at Old Hall Green Academy. the schools grounds are very large.
On 16 November 1793 - the feast of Saint Edmund
Edmund Rich
Edmund Rich was a 13th century Archbishop of Canterbury in England...
, Archbishop of Canterbury - a new College was instituted.
The establishment of St Edmund's College was the beginning of the restoration of Catholic colleges and seminaries throughout England. The remaining staff and students arrived from Douay by 1795, not before students from the North had left and established a separate foundation which is now Ushaw College
Ushaw College
Ushaw College was a Roman Catholic seminary near Durham, England that closed in 2011. Ushaw was the principal seminary in the north of England for the training of Catholic priests.-History:...
, near Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. A gift of £10,000 from John Sone, a Hampshire Catholic, enabled St. Edmund's to be established in new buildings designed by James Taylor of Islington, who had himself been a student at the Old Hall Green Academy.
The fortunes of the College varied throughout the 19th century, and at times it seemed as if the school might have to close. However, in 1853 a large Gothic chapel designed by Augustus Welby Pugin was completed. This project was begun during the episcopate of Bishop Thomas Griffiths, who had been the College's President from 1818 until 1834, and had done much to give the College a sound financial basis.
The era of Vicars Apostolic ended in 1850 with the restoration of the Hierarchy. In 1869, the Archbishop of Westminster, Henry Edward Manning, set up a seminary in Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, and for the first time St Edmund's ceased to be a theological college. In 1874, the junior boys were separated from the rest of the College into St Hugh's Preparatory School, in a house originally built by Pugin for the Oxford convert W. G. Ward
William George Ward
William George Ward was an English Roman Catholic theologian and mathematician whose career illustrates the development of religious opinion at a time of crisis in the history of English religious thought....
.
In 1893 his son, Bernard Ward
Bernard Nicholas Ward
Bernard Nicholas Ward was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Brentwood from 1917 until his death in 1920....
, was appointed President, and he started a scheme of rebuilding and improvements. Numbers in the school increased significantly, and in 1904 Archbishop Francis Bourne
Francis Bourne
Francis Alphonsus Bourne was an English prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1903 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1911.-Early life:...
decided to return the seminarians to the College. A new wing was built to house them, and this part of the College eventually became known as Allen Hall, after Cardinal Allen, the founder of the English College at Douay
Douay
Douay can refer to:* Abel Douay , French general* Félix Douay , French general and brother of Abel Douay* Douay–Rheims Bible, an English translation of the Bible, c.1600* Douai, a commune in northern France...
.
The College became considerably run down during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. However, a legacy of money became available to Cardinal Bourne, and this was used to carry out badly needed repairs and new additions.
The College celebrated the quatercentenary (i.e. the 400th anniversary) of its foundation in 1968. 1975 saw the departure of the seminarians for the second time: they moved to Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
but retained the name of Allen Hall. The school expanded considerably during the 1970s. In 1974, girls from the nearby Poles Convent and elsewhere were admitted into the sixth form as the first step towards complete coeducation
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
, which was accomplished with the closure of Poles Convent in 1986.
In 1996 the Infants' Department was opened in St Hugh's, which now means that the College can educate students from age 3-18.
Today the students of St Edmund's are split into five 'houses', named after Challoner
Richard Challoner
Richard Challoner was an English Roman Catholic bishop, a leading figure of English Catholicism during the greater part of the 18th century. He is perhaps most famous for his revision of the Douay Rheims translation of the Bible.-Early life:Challoner was born in the Protestant town of Lewes,...
, Douglass, Pole, Poynter
William Poynter
William Poynter was an English Catholic priest, bishop as vicar apostolic in London.-Life:He was educated at the English College at Douai, where he was ordained in 1786...
and Talbot
James Talbot
James Talbot was the last English Roman Catholic priest to be indicted in the public courts for saying Mass.He was born in Isleworth, Middlesex on 28 June 1726, a younger son of the Honourable George Talbot and Mary FitzWilliam...
.
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The post of Headmaster was created in 1926.
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O Beate mi Edmunde
The College anthem was composed by Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman for the solemn enshrinement of the Relic of St Edmund in the College Chapel. The song has a total of 30 verses arranged into three decades, the first and third decades are each preceded and concluded with the following chorus, and the second decade with a variation of it. It is sung every year on the 3 days before November 16th, St Edmund's Day, when St Edmund is remembered. Ten verses are sung each day in chapel of what is called the Triduum.- O Beate mi Edmunde,
- O Beate mi Edmunde,
- Sic pro me ad Filium Dei,
- Cum Maria preces funde,
- Cum Maria preces funde,
- Ut per vos sim placens Ei.
The Edmundian Association
The Edmundian Association was founded in 1853 and has members throughout the world. Its aim is to maintain a bond between the College and its alumni, and among members. Membership is available to past pupils of the College and their parents, parents of current pupils, and current and past members of staff.Notable former pupils
Laymen- Francis BarraudFrancis BarraudFrancis James Barraud was an English painter - the son of artist Henry Barraud.His most famous work, His Master's Voice, is one of the best-known commercial logos in the world, having inspired the music industry trademark depicting a dog and phonograph, which is used by several corporations,...
- Painter of NipperNipperNipper was a dog that served as the model for a painting titled His Late Master's Voice. This image was the basis for the dog and trumpet logo used by several audio recording and associated brands: His Master's Voice, HMV, RCA, Victor Talking Machine Company, RCA Victor and JVC.- Biography :Nipper...
, the HMV dog - Sir Alan BurnsAlan Burns (governor)Sir Alan Cuthbert Maxwell Burns GCMG was a British colonial administrator and governor.Burns was born in Basseterre and had three siblings. His father James Patrick Burns who was married to Agnes Zulma Delisle was treasurer of St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla and died in 1896. In 1901 Burns...
- Diplomat - Michel Jean CazabonMichel-Jean CazabonMichel-Jean Cazabon is regarded as the first great Trinidadian painter and is Trinidad's first internationally known artist. He is also known as the layman painter. He is renowned for his paintings of Trinidad scenery and for his portraits of planters, merchants and their family in the 19th century...
- Artist - Simon GeogheganSimon GeogheganSimon Patrick Geoghegan is a former Irish rugby union footballer who played at wing in England for London Irish and Bath and in the Irish Inter-provincial Championships for Connacht Rugby and the Exiles...
- Irish International Rugby Player - Adrian GilbertAdrian GilbertAdrian Gilbert is a bestselling British author and independent publisher who lives in England. His books are centred around investigations into ancient Esoteric knowledge and religious Mysteries....
- Bestselling author & publisher - Everard GreenEverard GreenEverard Green, FSA was an English officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He began his heraldic career in 1893 with his appointment as Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary. He continued in this post until 9 October 1911 when he was appointed Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary...
- Rouge Dragon Pursuivant & Somerset Herald, College of Arms - Sir Edward HenryEdward HenrySir Edward Richard Henry, 1st Baronet GCVO KCB CSI KPM was the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 1903 to 1918....
Bt - Pioneer of fingerprints - James Lynam MolloyJames Lynam MolloyJames Lynam Molloy was an Irish poet, author and composer.-Biography:James Molloy attended St Edmund's College as a student between 1851 and 1855 along with his brother Bernard, who later became an MP. After leaving the College, he went to the Catholic University in Dublin, graduating in 1858...
- Poet - Paul Alexander ZinoPaul Alexander ZinoPaul Alexander Zino was a Portuguese ornithologist after whom Zino's Petrel is named....
- Ornithologist after whom Zino's PetrelZino's PetrelThe Zino's Petrel or Freira, Pterodroma madeira, is a small seabird in the gadfly petrel genus which is endemic to the island of Madeira. This long-winged petrel has a grey back and wings, with a dark "W" marking across the wings, and a grey upper tail...
is named - Nick NielandNick NielandDr Nicholas Nieland is a British javelin thrower.He was the British number three for many years...
- Commonwealth Games Javelin Gold-Medallist - Joseph O'SullivanJoseph O'SullivanJoseph O'Sullivan along with Reginald Dunne, was a member of the Irish Republican Army, who shot dead Field Marshal Sir Henry Hughes Wilson on his doorstep at 36 Eaton Place in London on 22 June 1922. He was hanged for the killing on 10 August 1922 at Wandsworth Prison...
- Irish Nationalist - Henry OxenhamHenry Nutcombe OxenhamHenry Nutcombe Oxenham was an English ecclesiologist and author. He was originally ordained in the Church of England, but later converted to the Roman Catholic Church....
- Controversialist & poet - Ensign Everard PhillippsEverard Aloysius Lisle PhillippsEverard Aloysius Lisle Phillipps VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
VCVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
- Hero of the Indian Mutiny - William Scholl - Footwear designer & businessman
- Captain Neville StackT. Neville StackCaptain Thomas Neville Stack AFC was a 1920s test pilot, air racer and aviation pioneer. He served in both the First and Second World War and in all three services.-First World War:...
- test pilot, air racer and aviation pioneer - Aiden TurnerAiden TurnerAiden Turner is a British actor known for his role as Aidan Devane on All My Children , which he played from 6 June 2002 until he left AMC on 21 December 2009.-Early years:...
- Actor - Javier Iturriaga - Professional Footballer
- Tommie Hoban - Professional Footballer
- HRH Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini - Princess of Swaziland
Clergy
- Cardinal Francis BourneFrancis BourneFrancis Alphonsus Bourne was an English prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1903 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1911.-Early life:...
- Archbishop of Westminster (also buried here) - Revd Adrian FortescueAdrian Fortescue (priest)Adrian Fortescue was a Roman Catholic priest and Englishman who was an influential liturgist, artist, calligrapher, composer, polyglot, amateur photographer, Byzantine scholar, and adventurer.-Early life and education:...
- Priest, scholar & adventurer - Canon Reginald C. FullerReginald C. FullerReginald Cuthbert Fuller was ordained as a priest in 1931 by Cardinal Bourne, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, and appointed Canon of Westminster Cathedral by Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor in 2001...
- Scripture scholar - Dr Bruce KentBruce KentBruce Kent is a British political activist and a former Roman Catholic priest. Active in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament , he was the organisation's general secretary from 1980 to 1985 and its chair from 1987 to 1990...
- Laicised former Roman Catholic priest and Anti-War campaigner - Monsignor Ronald KnoxRonald KnoxRonald Arbuthnott Knox was an English priest, theologian and writer.-Life:Ronald Knox was born in Kibworth, Leicestershire, England into an Anglican family and was educated at Eton College, where he took the first scholarship in 1900 and Balliol College, Oxford, where again...
- Satirist, essayist, novelist & translator - Bishop Declan Lang - Bishop of Clifton
- Bishop George Michael Lenihan OSBGeorge Michael LenihanGeorge Michael Lenihan OSB was fifth Catholic Bishop of Auckland .-Early life:George Michael Lenihan was born in 1858 in London to Irish parents who died while he was a child. Aged 14, he entered the Benedictine College at St Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate under the Abbot Alcock whose associate was...
(1858-1910) - fifth Catholic Bishop of AucklandRoman Catholic Diocese of AucklandThe Latin Rite Catholic Diocese of Auckland is one of the two original dioceses in New Zealand. Although formally a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Wellington, both were erected on 20 June 1848...
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(1896-1910). - Canon Frederick OakeleyFrederick OakeleyFrederick Oakeley was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England the sixth son of Sir Charles Oakeley, second baronet, and educated at Christ Church, Oxford. He was ordained in 1828 and in 1845 converted from Church of England to Catholicism, whereupon he became Canon of Westminster in 1852....
- Translator of Adeste Fideles into English - Monsignor Canon Clement Henry Parsons - Founder and First Headmaster of Finchley Catholic High SchoolFinchley Catholic High SchoolFinchley Catholic High School for Boys is in North Finchley, part of the London Borough of Barnet.-Admissions:Finchley Catholic High School is, as its name declares, a faith school; it is also - up to the end of Year 11 - exclusively for boys...
- Archbishop George Stack - Archbishop of Cardiff
- Cardinal Herbert Vaughan - Archbishop of Westminster
- Archbishop Derek Worlock, CHCH-Business:* Bemidji Airlines IATA code* Carolina Herrera, a fashion designer based in New York.-Entertainment and sports:* Channel * College Humor.com, a comedy website...
- Archbishop of Liverpool