College History
The English College, also known as the Venerabile, is a seminary for the formation of Roman Catholic priests for the dioceses of England and Wales. The seminary was founded in 1579.
There has been an English presence at this location since 1362 making it the oldest English institution outside England.
College Martyrs
Saint Ralph Sherwin
Date of Martyrdom
1st December 1581
Place of birth
Rodsley, Derbyshire, England.
First member of the English College in Rome to be martyred. Sherwin’s last words were “Iesu, Iesu, Iesu, esto mihi Iesus!”
Saint Luke Kirby
Date of Martyrdom
30th May 1582
Place of birth
Richmond, North Yorkshire.
It was in Rome that he met the spy/informer Anthony Munday, who later gave false testimony against him.
Saint Polydore Plasden
Date of Martyrdom
10th December 1591
Place of birth
London, England.
Plasden ministered in Sussex and in London from 1588 to 1591. At his execution, acknowledged Elizabeth as his lawful queen, whom he would defend to the best of his power against all her enemies, and he prayed for her and the whole realm, but said that he would rather forfeit a thousand lives than deny or fight against his religion.
Saint Eustace White
Date of Martyrdom
10th December 1591
Place of birth
Louth, England.
Saint Henry Walpole S.J.
Date of Martyrdom
7th April 1595
Place of birth
Docking, Norfolk.
On 28 April 1583, he was admitted into the English College, Rome, and in October he received minor orders. He went to Tournai for his third year of probation, after which he was sent to help with the founding of the new English seminaries at Seville and Valladolid.
In 1593 he travelled to Philip II of Spain to obtain permission to found St. Omers. now Stonyhurst College in Lancashire.
Saint Robert Southwell S.J.
Date of Martyrdom
1595
Place of birth
Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk, England.
He was appointed “repetitor” (tutor) in the Venerable English College at Rome and after two years became the prefect of studies there.
Saint John Almond
Date of Martyrdom
1612
Place of birth
Allerton, Liverpool, England.
He went to the English College in Rome, at the age of twenty, where he was ordained as a priest, returning to England as a missionary in 1602.
[3] He concluded his term there by giving the ‘Grand Act’ — a public defence of theses which cover the whole course of philosophy and theology—and was warmly congratulated by Cardinals Caesar Baronius and Francesco Maria Tarugi, who presided.
Saint Henry Morse S.J.
Date of Martyrdom
1645
Saint David Lewis S.J.
Date of Martyrdom
1679
Saint John Wall O.F.M.
Date of Martyrdom
1679
Blessed John Shert
Date of Martyrdom
1582
Blessed Thomas Cottam
Date of Martyrdom
1582
Blessed William Lacey
Date of Martyrdom
1582
Blessed William Hart
Date of Martyrdom
1583
Blessed Thomas Hemerford
Date of Martyrdom
1584
Blessed John Munden
Date of Martyrdom
1584
Blessed Robert Morton
Date of Martyrdom
1588
Blessed Richard Leigh
Date of Martyrdom
1588
Blessed Edward James
Date of Martyrdom
1588
Blessed Christopher Buxton
Date of Martyrdom
1588
Blessed Christopher Bales
Date of Martyrdom
1590
Blessed John Cornelius S.J.
Date of Martyrdom
1594
Venerable Edward Morgan
Date of Martyrdom
1642
Blessed John Ingram
Date of Martyrdom
1594
Blessed Robert Watkinson
Date of Martyrdom
1602
Blessed Edward Oldcorne
Date of Martyrdom
1606
Blessed Richard Smith
Date of Martyrdom
1612
Blessed John Lockwood
Date of Martyrdom
1642
Blessed Anthony Turner S.J.
Date of Martyrdom
1679
Venerable George Haydock
Date of Martyrdom
1584
Venerable John Lowe
Date of Martyrdom
1586
Venerable Edmund Duke
Date of Martyrdom
1590
Venerable Thomas Pormort
Date of Martyrdom
1592
Venerable Joseph Lambton
Date of Martyrdom
1592
Venerable Edward Thwing
Date of Martyrdom
1594
Venerable Robert Middleton
Date of Martyrdom
1601
Venerable Thomas Tichborne
Date of Martyrdom
1602
Venerable John Thules
Date of Martyrdom
1616
Venerable Edward Morgan
Date of Martyrdom
1642
Venerable Brian Tansfield S.J.
Date of Martyrdom
1643
Venerable John Woodcock O.F.M.
Date of Martyrdom
1646
Venerable Edward Mico S.J.
Date of Martyrdom
1679
Last Updated: 28th October 2024
- S.J. = Society of Jesus
- O.F.M. = Order of Friars Minor (also called the Franciscan Order)
Sources:
- The Venerable English College Rome, Michael E. Williams
- Wikipedia
- Catholicsaints.info
Charity History
Through history priests have been supported by laymen and women. They have worked independently and together to travel and be friends in historic times of great difficulty. Today, the Friends of the Venerabile continue this honour to walk with our next generation of priests and priest students. The Friends charity in its current form was begun in 1989 and as a formal registered England and Wales charity in 1999.
Venerabile View (Member newsletter back issues)
The charity produce a Friends newsletter for members twice a year (Spring and Autumn). Please see sample below: