St Mary's College, Oscott

Oscott College
Oscott College
St Mary's College, New Oscott
	View of the college from the south
	Oscott College Location of college
	52°32′38″N1°51′20″W / 52.543766°N 1.855451°W
OS grid reference	SP0988894038
Location	New Oscott, Birmingham
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	oscott.net
History
Status	Seminary
Founded	May 1794
Founder(s)	Thomas Walsh
Dedication	St Mary
Consecrated	29 May 1838
Associated people	Cardinal Wiseman ; Bernard Griffin ; Cardinal Newman ; Thomas Williams
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II* Listed
Designated	25 April 1952
Architect(s)	Joseph Potter ; A.W. Pugin
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	25 April 1836
Completed	31 May 1838
Construction cost	£40,000
Administration
Province	Birmingham
Archdiocese	Birmingham
Deanery	Birmingham (North)
Parish	Our Lady of the Assumption Maryvale
Clergy
Archbishop	Bernard Longley
Rector	Canon Michael Dolman

Last updated October 29, 2024

St Mary's College in New Oscott, Birmingham, sometimes called Oscott College, is the Roman Catholic seminary of the Archdiocese of Birmingham in England and one of two seminaries of the Catholic Church in England and Wales in England, with Allen Hall Seminary in London.^[3] (Another two are in Rome: the Venerable English College ^[4], and the Pontifical Beda College for men over 30.^[5])

Purpose

College chapel, designed by A. W. N. Pugin OscottChapel.jpg — College chapel, designed by A. W. N. Pugin

Oscott College admits students for the priesthood from various dioceses of England and Wales, as well as some students from overseas. The first three years of the academic programme are validated by the University of Birmingham as a BA in Fundamental Catholic Theology. Those who complete the six-year programme, also obtain a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB) through affiliation with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.^[6]

Additionally, Oscott College is a centre for formation of candidates regarding the permanent diaconate.

History

Old Oscott

The college was founded in Oscott (present-day, Great Barr), in 1794, after the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1791, for both the training of priests and the education of lay pupils. It developed out of a small mission founded by Fr Andrew Bromwich, around 1687.

New Oscott

In 1838, the college moved to a new site, which came to be known as New Oscott (and the original site as "Old Oscott"). The Maryvale Institute remains on the original site. The new building was designed by Augustus Pugin and Joseph Potter at a cost of £40,000. It is grade II* listed. The college quickly became a symbol of the rebirth of the Catholic faith in England and played a prominent part in the life of the Church in the 19th century. In 1889, the college was closed, but reopened the following year as a seminary only.

21st Century

After the closure of St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw, Durham, in 2011, many of the dioceses in the province of Liverpool sent their students to Oscott to complete their training. This gave a boost in numbers at the college at a time when vocations seemed to be scarce.^[7]

Pope Benedict XVI visited on 19 September, 2010, following the beatification, earlier that day in Birmingham's Cofton Park, of Cardinal Newman who stayed at the college, in the late 1840s. During his visit to Oscott, Benedict had lunch with the Roman Catholic bishops of England, Scotland, and Wales. The Oscott visit was the last scheduled event during the four-day 2010 State Visit of Benedict to the UK. The Pope would later depart the UK from Birmingham Airport.

In 2023, the college hosted a seminar called "Rethink Abortion Day," which was led by prominent US-based activist anti-abortion groups. The seminar was based on building on the successes experienced by the Pro-Life movement in the United States and expanding their successes into the United Kingdom.^[8]

A national Eucharistic Congress for England and Wales is scheduled to take place at the college in September 2024.^[9]

Choral music

A CD of choral music, Sedes Sapientiae, performed by The Schola and recorded live in the college's chapel on 7 June 2008, was released by the college (cat. no. OSCOTTCD01).^[10]

Notable alumni

Clergy

Bishops

Francis Amherst (1819–1883), Bishop of Northampton.
Tomás Bryan Livermore (1824–1902), Bishop of Cartagena
Edward Bagshawe (1829–1915), Bishop of Nottingham.
Terence Brain (1938–), Bishop of Salford.
Kevin Dunn (1950–2008), Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.
William Lee (1875–1948), Bishop of Clifton.
Leo McCartie (1925–2020), Bishop of Northampton.
David McGough (1944-), Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.
James McGuinness (1925–2007), Bishop of Nottingham.
Robert Willson (1794–1866), Bishop of Hobart.
David Oakley (1955), Bishop of Northampton

Priests

William Francis Barry (1849–1930), writer.
Frederick Charles Husenbeth (1796–1872), writer.
Henry Weedall (1788–1859), educator.
William Purcell Witcutt (c.1910–c.1970), author.

Laity

John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton (1834–1902).
George Ashlin (1837–1921), architect.
John Ball (1818–1889), Irish politician and naturalist.
Wilfrid Scawen Blunt (1840–1922), poet.
Thomas Henry Burke (1829–1882), Permanent Under Secretary at the Irish Office.
John Cornwell (1940–), writer.
Charles Kent (1823–1902), journalist and editor.
Edmund Kirby (1838–1920), architect.
Nicholas Lash (1934–2020), theologian.
Ernest Law (1854–1930), historian and barrister.
Edwin de Lisle MP (1852–1920), politician.
St. George Jackson Mivart (1827–1900), biologist.
George Moore (1852–1933), novelist.
Francis Loraine Petre (1852–1925), civil servant and military historian.
Thomas Nicholas Redington (1815–1862), Irish political administrator.
Frederick Rolfe, also known as Baron Corvo (1860–1913), writer and artist.
Joseph Stevenson (1806–1895), archivist and editor.
Gerald Strickland, 1st Baron Strickland (1861–1940), Prime Minister of Malta.
Charles Towneley (1803–1876) and his younger brother John (1806–1878), both were MPs, officers in the 5th Royal Lancashire Militia and trustees of the British Museum.^[11]

Former presidents and rectors

Presidents

1794–1808 John Bew
1808–15 Thomas Potts
1816–18 John Francis Quick
1818–25 Thomas Walsh
1825–40 Henry Weedall
1840–47 Nicholas Wiseman
1847–48 Henry F.C. Logan
1848–53 John Moore
1853–59 Henry Weedall
1859–60 George Morgan
1860–77 James Spencer Northcote
1877–80 John Hawksford
1880–84 Edward Acton
1885 Joseph Henry Souter^[12]

Rectors

1885–90 Joseph Henry Souter
1890–96 Edward Ilsley
1896–1924 Henry Parkinson
1924–29 Charles Cronin
1929–35 James Dey
1935–61 Leonard Emery
1961–68 Richard Foster
1968–79 Francis Thomas
1979–84 Patrick Kelly
1984–89 Michael Kirkham
1989–98 Patrick McKinney
1998–2001 Kevin McDonald
2001–13 Mark Crisp
2013–20 David Oakley ^[13]
2020–21 Giles Goward
2021-Present: Fr Michael Dolman

Related Research Articles

Ushaw College is a former Catholic seminary, which until 2011 was also a licensed hall of residence of Durham University near the village of Ushaw Moor, County Durham, England, which is now a heritage and cultural tourist attraction. The college is known for its Georgian and Victorian Gothic architecture and listed nineteenth-century chapels. The college now hosts a programme of art exhibitions, music and theatre events, alongside tearooms and a café.

Henry Weedall was a British nineteenth century Roman Catholic preacher, educator and churchman.

The Diocese of Westminster is a Latin archdiocese of the Catholic Church in England. The diocese consists of most of London north of the River Thames and west of the River Lea, the borough of Spelthorne, and the county of Hertfordshire, which lies immediately to London's north.

The Archdiocese of Birmingham is one of the principal Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The archdiocese covers an area of 3,373 square miles (8,740 km²), encompassing Staffordshire, the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and much of Oxfordshire as well as Caversham in Berkshire. The metropolitan see is in the City of Birmingham at the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Chad. The metropolitan province includes the suffragan dioceses of Clifton and Shrewsbury.

Vincent Gerard Nichols is a British Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Westminster since 2009. He is also president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. He previously served as Archbishop of Birmingham from 2000 to 2009. He was created cardinal in 22 February 2014.

Patrick Altham Kelly PHL KC*HS is an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Liverpool following his resignation which took effect on 27 February 2013; he was formerly Vice President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth</span> Catholic diocese in England

The Roman CatholicDiocese of Portsmouth is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church that covers the Channel Islands as well as parts of England. The episcopal see is St John's Cathedral in Portsmouth and is headed by the Bishop of Portsmouth. The diocese is part of the metropolitan Province of Southwark, which covers all of the far South of England as well as the Channel Islands.

Kevin John Patrick McDonald KC*HS is the Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark, England.

Francis Kerril Amherst T.O.S.D., was an English Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton in England.

Patrick Leo McCartie was a British Catholic prelate who was the Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham and Bishop of Northampton.

The Pontifical Beda College is a Catholic seminary in Rome. It was founded as the Collegio Ecclesiastico at the Palazzo dei Convertendi in 1852 by Pope Pius IX and is intended for older men, often convert clergymen, wishing to prepare for the priesthood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle</span> Catholic diocese in England

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church, centred on St Mary's Cathedral in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in England. The diocese is one of the six suffragan sees in the ecclesiastical Province of Liverpool and covers the historic boundaries of County Durham and Northumberland.

Francis Edward Joseph Grimshaw was a British Roman Catholic bishop, who served as Archbishop of Birmingham from 1954 until his death.

Hugh Christopher Budd was a British Roman Catholic prelate who served as the 8th Bishop of Plymouth.

Joseph Edward Rudderham was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Clifton from 1949 to 1974.

James Brown was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of Shrewsbury from 1851 to 1881.

Patrick Joseph McKinney is the 10th Bishop of Nottingham. His appointment was announced on 14 May 2015 by Pope Francis. He previously served as a member of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Birmingham and Rector of St Mary's College, Oscott.

David James Oakley is the Roman Catholic Bishop of Northampton.

Stephen James Lawrence Wright is a British Roman Catholic prelate. Since 2023, he has served as Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.

References

↑ Oscott History Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
↑ British Listed Buildings
↑ "Become a Priest". Portsmouth Catholic Diocese. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
↑ "About the VEC – Venerable English College". Venerable English College. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
↑ "Pontifical Beda College – Rome (homepage)" . Retrieved 28 October 2024.
↑ "The Seminary - Oscott College". Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
↑ UK Vocations Statistics Archived 2013-12-14 at the Wayback Machine
↑ Stewart, Katherine. "'If we can do it, you can do it': US anti-abortion groups ramp up activities in UK". The Guardian . Retrieved 2 April 2023.
↑ Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, Plenary Resolutions: Environment, St Winefride, Eucharistic Congress and Conflict in Gaza, published 17 November 2023, accessed 30 November 2023
↑ Sedes Sapientiae CD insert
↑ The Oscotian : a literary gazette of St. Mary's College, Oscott, vol. 22, St. Mary's College, 1888, p. 110
↑ List of Superiors, Masters and Students
↑ Williams Oscott College p. 183

External links

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Oscott History Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine

[2] British Listed Buildings

[3] "Become a Priest". Portsmouth Catholic Diocese. Retrieved 28 October 2024.

[4] "About the VEC – Venerable English College". Venerable English College. Retrieved 28 October 2024.

[5] "Pontifical Beda College – Rome (homepage)" . Retrieved 28 October 2024.

[6] "The Seminary - Oscott College". Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.

[7] UK Vocations Statistics Archived 2013-12-14 at the Wayback Machine

[8] Stewart, Katherine. "'If we can do it, you can do it': US anti-abortion groups ramp up activities in UK". The Guardian . Retrieved 2 April 2023.

[9] Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, Plenary Resolutions: Environment, St Winefride, Eucharistic Congress and Conflict in Gaza, published 17 November 2023, accessed 30 November 2023

[10] Sedes Sapientiae CD insert

[11] The Oscotian : a literary gazette of St. Mary's College, Oscott, vol. 22, St. Mary's College, 1888, p. 110

[12] List of Superiors, Masters and Students

[13] Williams Oscott College p. 183

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

v t e Roman Catholic seminaries in England and Wales
Current	Allen Hall, London (Redemptoris Mater House of Formation) St Mary's College, Oscott
Former	St Mary's College, Aberystwyth Sacred Heart College, Bath St Wilfrid's College, Cotton St Joseph's College, Mark Cross Campion House, Osterley St Hugh's College, Tollerton St Michael's College, Underley Hall St Joseph's College, Upholland St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw St Edmund's College, Ware St John's Seminary, Wonersh
Catholicismportal

v t e Archdiocese of Birmingham
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham
Archbishops and bishops of Birmingham I: William Bernard Ullathorne II: Edward Ilsley III: John McIntyre IV: Thomas Leighton Williams V: Joseph Masterson VI: Francis Grimshaw VII: George Dwyer VIII: Maurice Couve de Murville IX: Vincent Nichols X: Bernard Longley
Churches St Chad's Cathedral - Metropolitan Cathedral Church and Basilica of St Chad St John the Evangelist Church, Banbury St Francis of Assisi Church, Bedworth Birmingham Oratory Erdington Abbey, Birmingham Our Lady Help of Christians, Tile Cross, Birmingham Our Lady and St Brigid, Northfield, Birmingham Our Lady and St Rose of Lima, Weoley Castle, Birmingham St Anne's Church, Birmingham St Catherine of Siena Church, Birmingham St Edward's Church, Selly Park, Birmingham St Francis of Assisi Church, Handsworth, Birmingham St Mary's Church, Harborne, Birmingham St Michael's Church, Birmingham St Mary and St Modwen Church, Burton-on-Trent St Giles' Church, Cheadle Holy Trinity Church, Chipping Norton St Osburg's Church, Coventry St Peter and St Paul and St Elizabeth Church, Coughton Church of the Sacred Heart and St Catherine, Droitwich Spa St Peter's Church, Leamington Spa Holy Trinity Church, Newcastle-under-Lyme Our Lady of the Angels Church, Nuneaton St Anne's Church, Nuneaton Oxford Oratory St Edmund and St Frideswide Church, Oxford‎ Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Redditch St Marie's Church, Rugby St Austin's Church, Stafford Our Lady of the Angels and St Peter in Chains Church, Stoke-on-Trent St Mary's Church, Uttoxeter St Mary's Church, Walsall Church of Our Lady and St Hubert, Warley St Mary Immaculate Church, Warwick St Mary and St John Church, Wolverhampton St Peter and St Paul's Church, Wolverhampton St George's Church, Worcester
Patronal Feasts of the Diocese Saint Chad (2 March) Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (8 December)
Schools Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School Bishop Challoner Catholic College Bishop Milner Catholic College Bishop Ullathorne Roman Catholic School Bishop Walsh Catholic School Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College Blessed George Napier Roman Catholic School Blessed William Howard Catholic School Cardinal Griffin Catholic College Cardinal Newman Catholic School and Community College Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, Coventry Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, Birmingham Greyfriars Catholic School Hagley Roman Catholic High School Holy Trinity Catholic Academy of Stafford and Stone Holy Trinity Catholic School, Birmingham John Henry Newman Catholic College The Oratory Preparatory School The Oratory School Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy Painsley Catholic College Princethorpe College Rye St Antony School St Augustine's High School, Redditch St Benedict's Catholic High School, Alcester St Dominic's Grammar School St Dominic's Priory School, Stone St Edmund Campion Catholic School St Edmund's Catholic Academy St Francis of Assisi Catholic College St John Fisher Catholic College St John Wall Catholic School St Joseph's College, Stoke-on-Trent St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy St Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary School St Paul's School for Girls, Birmingham St Peter's Catholic School, Solihull St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, Birmingham St Thomas More Catholic Academy St Thomas More Catholic School, Nuneaton St Thomas More Catholic School, Willenhall Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School Trinity Catholic School
See also: Newman University St Mary's College, Oscott Maryvale Institute Cotton College Harvington Hall Philip Pargeter St Mary's Abbey, Colwich St Mary's Convent, Handsworth Carmelite Monastery, Wolverhampton Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy The Friary, Oxford Apostolic Vicariate of the Midland District
Catholicismportal Englandportal Staffordshireportal Oxfordshireportal