English College, Lisbon
Encyclopedia
The English College, Lisbon (Portuguese Convento dos Inglesinhos) was a Roman Catholic seminary that existed from the 17th century to the 20th century.
by Pedro Coutinho, a member of a prominent family. It was known as SS. Peter and Paul's (with greater formality the Pontifical English College of Sts Peter and Paul - Lisbon). It was awarded the same rights and privileges as the English College, Rome and was one of the Pontifical Colleges in the sense of being centrally controlled from Rome, one of the substantial group of institutions set up with the aim of maintaining the Catholic faith in England, Ireland, and Scotland.
The moving force behind the foundation was the priest William Newman (1577–1640), though he never became head of the College. Newman had been entrusted with property from the estate of the late Nicholas Ashton, a Catholic chaplain in Lisbon. Initial progress was slow after a papal brief of Pope Gregory XV
in 1622, with only a church erected on property given by Coutinho, who also gave endowment. Richard Smith, the Catholic bishop in England, took a hand and sent one of his archdeacon
s, Joseph Haynes (also Hynes, Harvey). The foundation was supported by the arrival of group of students and teachers from the English College, Douai
in 1628, the first president being Haynes. Haynes, however, then died quite suddenly, shortly after the college opened in 1629.
The second president was Thomas White
, alias Blacklow, with William Clifford
as vice-president. He was at the College for three years from 1630. His rules for its governance brought it under the Bishop of Chalcedon (the title used at the time by the Catholic bishop in England). Pursuing further funding and students in England, he was dissatisfied at the results and resigned.
Early history
In 1624 a college for English students wishing to study for the Catholic priesthood, and for mission work in England, was founded in LisbonLisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
by Pedro Coutinho, a member of a prominent family. It was known as SS. Peter and Paul's (with greater formality the Pontifical English College of Sts Peter and Paul - Lisbon). It was awarded the same rights and privileges as the English College, Rome and was one of the Pontifical Colleges in the sense of being centrally controlled from Rome, one of the substantial group of institutions set up with the aim of maintaining the Catholic faith in England, Ireland, and Scotland.
The moving force behind the foundation was the priest William Newman (1577–1640), though he never became head of the College. Newman had been entrusted with property from the estate of the late Nicholas Ashton, a Catholic chaplain in Lisbon. Initial progress was slow after a papal brief of Pope Gregory XV
Pope Gregory XV
Pope Gregory XV , born Alessandro Ludovisi, was pope from 1621, succeeding Paul V on 9 February 1621...
in 1622, with only a church erected on property given by Coutinho, who also gave endowment. Richard Smith, the Catholic bishop in England, took a hand and sent one of his archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
s, Joseph Haynes (also Hynes, Harvey). The foundation was supported by the arrival of group of students and teachers from the English College, Douai
English College, Douai
The English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...
in 1628, the first president being Haynes. Haynes, however, then died quite suddenly, shortly after the college opened in 1629.
The second president was Thomas White
Thomas White (scholar)
Thomas White was an English Roman Catholic priest and scholar, known as a theologian, censured by the Inquisition, and also as a philosopher contributing to scientific and political debates.-Life:...
, alias Blacklow, with William Clifford
William Clifford (priest)
William Clifford was an English Roman Catholic theologian.-Life:After education and ordination at Douai, Clifford went on the English mission...
as vice-president. He was at the College for three years from 1630. His rules for its governance brought it under the Bishop of Chalcedon (the title used at the time by the Catholic bishop in England). Pursuing further funding and students in England, he was dissatisfied at the results and resigned.
Later history
It suffered severely from the earthquake of 1755, but continued its work. The College finally closed in 1973.People associated with the College
- John Ignatius Bleasdale, student
- Edward Booth, student
- James Yorke BramstonJames Yorke BramstonJames Yorke Bramston was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Vicar Apostolic of the London District from 1827 until his death in 1836....
, student - William CliffordWilliam Clifford (priest)William Clifford was an English Roman Catholic theologian.-Life:After education and ordination at Douai, Clifford went on the English mission...
, vice-president - Humphrey EllisHumphrey EllisHumphrey Ellis, D.D. , was a Catholic divine, whose true name was Waring.Ellis belonged to a family 'of great antiquity and good account,' and finished his theological studies at the English College at Douay. On 25 August 1628 he was sent from Douay, with nine other students, under the care of the...
, student in 1628 - Daniel FitterDaniel FitterDaniel Fitter was an English Catholic clergyman who was affected by but managed to navigate his way through the religious strife of the late seventeenth century....
, student - Peter GoodenPeter GoodenPeter Gooden was an English Roman Catholic priest, who came to prominence as a controversialist during the reign of James II.-Life:...
, student - John Goter, student
- Victor GuazzelliVictor GuazzelliVictor Guazzelli was a Roman Catholic priest who served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Westminster. He was known as a devoted supporter of social justice.-Biography:...
- Thomas Hall, student
- William Hall, student
- Thomas HaydockThomas HaydockThomas Haydock , born of one of the oldest English Catholic Recusant families, was a schoolmaster and publisher. His dedication to making religious books available to fellow Catholics suffering under the English Penal Laws came at great personal cost...
- Roger Hesketh
- Monsignor Hilton, born in 1825; educated at Lisbon; ordained 1850; served some time on the mission in the Diocese of Shrewsbury, England; made a domestic prelate in 1881; and returned to Lisbon as president in 1883.
- Edward Pickford, student and first alumnus president
- Richard Russell, bishop
- John SergeantJohn Sergeant (priest)John Sergeant was an English Roman Catholic priest, controversialist and theologian.-Life:He was son of William Sergeant, a yeoman in Barrow-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire, and was admitted in 1639 as a sub-sizar at St John's College, Cambridge, graduating in 1643...
- Thomas Tylden
- Thomas WhiteThomas White (scholar)Thomas White was an English Roman Catholic priest and scholar, known as a theologian, censured by the Inquisition, and also as a philosopher contributing to scientific and political debates.-Life:...
, second president 1630–1633