English Catholic History Association

14 carved wooden stations from the Grace Dieu estate are being sold at an auction house on 1st December 2020. Grace Dieu School which was run by the Rosminians, closed in the summer of this year.. Full details can be found on the link below.

https://www.gildings.co.uk/auction/lot/33-set-of-fourteen-carved-and-limed-poplar-station-of-the-cross/?lot=47358

Please go to the following link for information on this upcoming conference to mark the first anniversary of the canonisation of St John Henry Newman

https://christianheritagecentre.com/event/newman/

Tim Guile writes a fascinating account of the medieval shrines of Ipswich, Willesden and Walsingham. Read his paper in full here

This book has been newly published by one of our members.

Who was Thomas Watson? Famous in his day, he was the epitome of Renaissance man: classical scholar, linguist, poet, playwright, musician, scientist, thinker, traveller, cosmologist, a man of intense curiosity. “A very learned man that could tell strange things”. His book of 100 love poems still intrigues, and musicologists admire his deft translations of Italian madrigals. He was a sociable companion, too, a loyal friend of poets and playwrights, and a wit-“witty Tom Watson“.

Watson mixed with the highest in the land, including the Earl of Oxford’s literary clique and the rival house of Philip and Mary Sidney. He was a close friend of the atheist Christopher Marlowe, and colleague of the Roman Catholic composer William Byrd. Yet, Watson also mingled with the basest in society. He was a government agent, an acquaintance of the spy master “Mr Secretary” Walsingham and a loved companion of his nephew. Scrapes and scandals dogged his life and even his death in 1592 aged 37 is blemished by a question mark.

History has neglected Tom Watson. By examining his works and the culture in which he mixed, Ian Johnson attempts to get a measure of the man

https://www.amazon.com/Renaissance-Man-Ian-Johnson/dp/1789558859

Sadly we have had to either cancel or postpone all our public events until further notice.

We are planning that our AGM and Day Conference will be go ahead via Zoom on October 24th when Dr Carmen Mangion will be speaking on Changing Dimensions of Women’s Religious Life from 1945-1990.  We will keep you updated.

Refer to the London Catholic History Walks website for more details of the events below:

RICHMOND: FRIDAY March 13th, 11am (note time, there is Mass at 10am) St Elizabeth’s RC Church, The Vineyard, Richmond TW10 6AQ. Nearest Tube and main line train RICHMOND. We will explore the Old Palace (Henry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I) and then walk along the river to St John Henry Newman’s family home at Ham.

ISLINGTON: SUNDAY March 15th, 3.30pm at St John the Divine, Islington, London N1 8AL (nearest tube ANGEL). We will learn about the ancient shrine of Our Lady of the Oak, and a modern Catholic heroine, Caroline Chisholm.

 RICHMOND: SUNDAY March 22nd. 3.30pm History Walk RICHMOND. Meet St Elizabeth’s RC Church, Richmond TW10 6AQ

WESTMINSTER: MONDAY March 30th, 6.30pm (after 5.30pm Mass). Meet steps of Westminster Cathedral London SW1P 1LT. We will explore Westminster, the Abbey, Parliament etc.

NO NEED TO BOOK   – JUST TURN UP!  Wear sensible clothing and shoes – we will be walking whatever the weather!

Suggested donation: £10 per adult.

http://www.catholichistorywalks.com