£ )


THE JESUIT HISTORY


by T. E. Muir


Jesuits brought many qualities College played important part in English Catholicism


P hilip II and Fr


duced what is now the oldest Jesuit College in the English-speaking world.


money, Persons the drive and inspiration.


Philip provided the


Omer, France, the pur­ pose of Slonyhurst College was to educate the sons of English Catholics.


Originally based at St


gentry, then the bedrock of English Catholicism.


Many sprang from the


provided safe-houses from which priests, often them­ selves educated at St Omer, could work.


Returning home, they


leadership of Fr Schon- donch, rector between 1600 and 1017, a tradition of dedicated piety, aca­ demic excellence, music, drama and publishing was quickly built up. Ry 1015, the roll stood at about 130 where, with some lapses, it more or less remained for the next two centuries.


Thanks to the inspiring


factor in the survival of English Catholicism.


St Omer then was a key


achieved without cost. St Omer was repeatedly besieged and eventually captured by the French.


Not th a t th is was


lege had to cope with the dire effects of the English


Simultaneously, the col­


Persons — what a c o n t r a s t ! Y e t between them they pro­


Civil Wars, the extraordi­ nary disturbances asso­ ciated with the Popish Plot, the consequences of the “Glorious” Revolution and two serious fires.


include 15 officially-desig­ nated "St Omer Martyrs.


Alumni from this period


of the Society, together with the French Revolu­ tion, drove the college to undertake three remark­ able migrations, the last of which, through the gener­ osity of Thomas Weld, brought it to Stonyhurst in 17!M.


Finally, the suppression


the college continued to play an important part in the d ev e lo pm en t of English Catholicism. Merely by surviving, it forms a bridge between the Society’s suppression, restoration and eventual recognition by the English Vicars Apostolic some 50 years later.


During the 19th century


than a school. Until 1910, iL catered for “Gentlemen Philosophers,” members of the largest Catholic "uni­ versity department in the country.”


SLonyhurst was more


theologians, novices and philosophers were trained there. They then set out to found missions, colleges and schools all over Vic­ toria’s empire.


1920, respectively, vir­ tually all English Jesuit


Until 1848, 1855 and


yhursl enhanced its repu­ tation for excellence and innovation.


At the same time, Ston-


ence were part of the cur­ riculum. In 1810, the firsL science laboratories of any English school were opened and, the year after, gas lighting was installed.


At Liege, maths and sci­


old, sometimes pictur­ esque customs, such as Stonyhurst cricket and football, continued to flourish.


Yet, despite this, many


towards the end of the century as the college, responding to declining anti-Catholic prejudice, gradually became less isolated.


These only died out


ent century, Stonyhurst became an amalgam of the best in Jesuit and public school traditions. A strong sense of duty, encompass­ ing both Church and S l a t e , e x p la in s an astounding war record, including seven VCs.


especially in rugby, are formidable, but the aca­ demic side was not neg­ lected. Unlike other Catn- o 1 i c s c h o o l s , th e “ p lay ro om ” system inherited from St Omer was retained, whereby the boys are divided into year groups in the care of a playroom master. This system continues to this day.


Sporting achievements, bbey caffolding


HIRE & SALES REACH NEW HEIGHTS! ALLOY TOWERS 1l


ERECTED & DISMANTLED SYSTEM SCAFFOLDS LADDERS, TRESTLES AND STAGINGS RUBBISH SHUTES


HYDRAULIC PLATFORMS, ALL TYPES


SO LV E A L L YOUR A C C E S S PROBLEMS WITH ONE T E LEPH ONE CALL!


and congratulate them on /-\rv— tbclr 400year birthday


We are proud to supply ourfull range o f Access Products to Stoneyhurst


/ j \ It 1 I


PRESTON (0772) 628628 F A X : 1 0 7 7 2 ) 6 2 8 2 8 9


GOUCH LANE, BAMBER BRIDGE, PRESTON PR5 6AQ


TUB migra­ t ions from St Omer to Bruges and from Liege t o


S t o n y - hurst


Walter Lambert & Sons Ltd.


(Timber Imports) Nelson.


Established 1 8 7 7


Suppliers of timber and sheet


materials to Stonyhurst


College, for many years.


Very Best \ Nelso n . Tel: 6 1 3 3 3 3 |


Wishes Spring Bank


HURST


P L A S T I C S L I M I T E D Vacuum Forming, Fabrication &. Design In Plastics


A v e r y h a p p y 4 0 O th a n n iv e r s a r y


THE OLD BOBBIN MILL, CROW WOOD, LONGRIDGE ROAD,


HURST GREEN, nr BLACKBURN. Tel: (0254) 826771


Step back in time to


the place where you, the customer, is king


We are open all day everyday


V/& Extensive international menu, children welcome. Weddings, < other parties and conference facilities.


THE OLDSTONEHOUSE EATING ESTABLISHMENT OWD NED'S RIVERVIEW TAVERN " Traditional home-made country tavern, food and cask ales


, % Conservatory. Open all day - every day. "<


s Comfortable en-suile accommodation. TV, tea & coffee < making facilities. £31.00 per room.


MITTON HALL LODGINGS


Wc wish to extend our congratulations to Stonyhurst College


on the occasion of their 400th anniversary ami also thank them for their past and future _____ association with our establishment._____


"v M IT T O N R O A D , M IT T O N , 3 B L A C K B U R N , L A N C A S H IR E . <Tel: 0254 826544 F a x : 0254 826386


As a result, in the pres­


more outward-looking than ever before. During the 1960s, in line with Valican II, the then head­ master, Fr Earle, inau­ gurated a great liberalisa­ tion of habits, routines and structures.


Today Stonyhurst is


the poor was fostered through the development of numerous boy-run charities. At the same time, the closure of lieau- mont swelled the roll by two-fifths.


Christian concern for


ment of more lay staff pre­ pared the ground for the appointment of Dr Mercer, the first lay headmaster, in 1985.


Meanwhile, the recruit­


innovation continues to thrive. Recently, a new design technology centre and a swimming pool were opened, while current plans envisage the reshap­ ing and updating of vir­ tually all the other aca­ demic departments, the building of a Centenaries Hall at St Mary's and an


Stonyhurst's instinct for


addition to the already g e n e r o u s b u r s a r y provision. These will be financed


by proceeds from the Cen­ tenaries appeal, at pres­ ent standing at more than 12. million.


visited Stonyhurst. The significance of this event should not be underesti­ mated. For the college, without losing sight of its past, has become fully identified with the sterling values underpinning English society.


In 1990, the Queen THE MIGRATIONS


THE writer of the adjacent article, Mr Thomas Muir, is also the author of “ S to n y h u rs t College 1593-1992.” E d u c a t e d a t


Stonyhurst. II i s e a r l i e s t


a t


Eton and Oxford, Mr Muir is the head of history and p o l i t i c s


research about the college was incor­ porated in the man­ ual “ Stonyhurst Through Docum­ ents.” h Mr Muir spends


ing and performing music for church services, chamber and jazz groups.


is spare time writ­


’ .........vS e .n jh .u t


Hti|,


o'Ya>f*ouHv._____


Lulwo^Hi Maort>*Lt ------------- • ......... Ua^V l«»w(


'-'U NETHERLANDS (


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42