St Edmund's College is a coeducational

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

day and boarding school in the British public school tradition, set in in

Ware, Hertfordshire Ware is a town and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district, in the county of Hertfordshire, England. It is close to the county town of Hertford. In the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census, the parish had a population of 19,622. Hist ...

. Founded in 1568 as a seminary, then a boys' school, it is the oldest continuously operatinga claim disputed by several works including but not exclusive to
America : A Catholic Review of the Week 1931-01-24: Vol 44 Iss 16
' and oldest post-

Reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major Theology, theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the p ...

Catholic school in the country. Today it caters for boys and girls aged 3 to 18.

History

Douai: 1568–1793

St Edmund's College is a continuation on English soil of the English College that was founded by William Cardinal Allen at

Douai Douai ( , , ; ; ; formerly spelled Douay or Doway in English) is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord département in northern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the department. Located on the river Scarpe (rive ...

Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...

, France in 1568. Originally intended as a

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...

to prepare priests to work in England to keep Catholicism alive, it soon also became a boys' school for Catholics, who were debarred from running such institutions in England. Many of its students, both priests and laymen, returned to England to be put to death under the anti-Catholic laws. The college includes amongst its former alumni 20 canonised and 138 beatified martyrs.

Silkstead, Twyford, Standon and Old Hall Green: 1662–1793

A small Catholic school was started in Hampshire in the second half of the 17th century. It was opened by a priest at Silkstead some time before 1662, and transferred to Twyford, near

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

. It was conducted in great secrecy, and was for boys of preparatory-school age who intended to proceed to the English College to complete more advanced studies. The poet

Alexander Pope Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 Old Style and New Style dates, O.S. – 30 May 1744) was an English poet, translator, and satirist of the Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment era who is considered one of the most prominent English poets of the early ...

was a student at the school, although he did not proceed to Douay. Twyford was closed in 1745 on account of

anti-Catholic Anti-Catholicism is hostility towards Catholics and opposition to the Catholic Church, its clergy, and its adherents. Scholars have identified four categories of anti-Catholicism: constitutional-national, theological, popular and socio-cul ...

feeling caused by the Jacobite rising, but Bishop Richard Challoner re-established the school in Hertfordshire at Standon Lordship in 1753, in a property owned by the Aston family. In 1769, Bishop James Talbot moved the school to its current site at

Old Hall Green Old Hall Green is a hamlet in Hertfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census the population was included in the civil parish of Standon. In 1793, an academy, St Edmund's College, Ware, was established there which provided a school for Catholic b ...

], near Puckeridge, and it became known as Old Hall Green Academy.Ward, Bernard. ''A History of St. Edmund's College'', London. Kegan Paul. 1893
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Old Hall Green: 1793 – present

The work of the English College in Douay was brought to an end by the French Revolution, and in October 1793 the college property was confiscated. Professors and students came back to England, where Relief Acts had considerably relaxed the penal laws against Catholics. John Douglass, Vicar Apostolic of the London District, realised that the time had come to replace the English College, and the earliest refugees joined the students at Old Hall Green Academy. On 16 November 1793 – the feast of St Edmund of Canterbury – a new college was instituted.Burton, Edwin. "Old Hall (St Edmund's College)." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 13 January 2019. This was the beginning of a restoration of Catholic colleges and seminaries throughout England. Students from the North had established a separate foundation, which is now

Ushaw College Ushaw College (formally St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw) is a former Roman Catholic Church, Roman Catholic seminary, which until 2011 was also a Colleges of Durham University#Types of College, licensed hall of residence of Durham University near th ...

, near Durham by the time that the remaining staff and students arrived from Douay by 1795 to join St Edmund's College. A gift of £10,000 from John Sone, a Hampshire Catholic, enabled St Edmund's to be established in new buildings, designed by James Taylor of Islington, who had himself been a student at the Old Hall Green Academy. A chapel and refectory were added in 1805 by Bishop Poynter, who succeeded Dr. Stapleton as president in 1801. Thomas Griffiths,

Vicar Apostolic of the London District The Apostolic Vicariate of the London District was an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. It was led by a vicar apostolic who was a titular bishop. The apostolic vicariate was created in 1688 and was dissolved ...

, was the college's president from 1818 until 1834, and did much to give the college a sound financial basis, culminating in a project for a large Gothic chapel designed by Pugin, completed in 1853. Nevertheless, the fortunes of the college varied throughout the 19th century and at times it seemed as if it might have to close. It was the seminary for the "London district" until 1850, when it became the joint property of the Sees of Westminster. The era of Vicars Apostolic ended in 1850 with the restoration of the Hierarchy. Strachey, in his ''

Eminent Victorians ''Eminent Victorians'' is a book by Lytton Strachey (one of the older members of the Bloomsbury Group), first published in 1918, and consisting of biography, biographies of four leading figures from the Victorian era. Its fame rests on the irreve ...

'', portrays the college as the scene of a dispute between

Henry Edward Manning Henry Edward Manning (15 July 1808 – 14 January 1892) was an English prelate of the Catholic Church, and the second Archbishop of Westminster from 1865 until his death in 1892. He was ordained in the Church of England as a young man, but co ...

and Dr Errington over whether a

recusant Recusancy (from ) was the state of those who remained loyal to the Catholic Church and refused to attend Church of England services after the English Reformation. The 1558 Recusancy Acts passed in the reign of Elizabeth I, and temporarily repea ...

or an

ultramontane Ultramontanism is a clerical political conception within the Catholic Church that places strong emphasis on the prerogatives and powers of the Pope. It contrasts with Gallicanism, the belief that popular civil authority—often represented by ...

style should prevail there, and ultimately over who was to succeed Wiseman as second Cardinal

Archbishop of Westminster The archbishop of Westminster heads the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, in England. The incumbent is the metropolitan of the Province of Westminster, chief metropolitan of England and Wales and, as a matter of custom, is elected presid ...

. In 1869, Manning, now Archbishop, set up a seminary in

Hammersmith Hammersmith is a district of West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. It ...

, and for the first time St Edmund's ceased to be a theological college. In 1874, the junior boys were separated from the rest of the college into St Hugh's Preparatory School, in a house originally built by Pugin for the Oxford convert

William George Ward William George Ward (21 March 1812 – 6 July 1882) was an English theologian and mathematician. A Roman Catholic convert, his career illustrates the development of religious opinion at a time of crisis in the history of English religious thoug ...

. The prep school has since been renamed St Edmund's Preparatory School. In 1893, Bernard Ward, was appointed president and started a scheme of rebuilding and improvements. Numbers in the school increased significantly, and in 1904 Archbishop

Francis Bourne Francis Alphonsus Bourne (1861–1935) was an English prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the fourth Archbishop of Westminster from 1903 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1911. Biography Early life Franci ...

decided to return the seminarians to the college. A new wing was built to house them, and this part of the college eventually became known as Allen Hall, after Cardinal Allen, founder of the English College at Douay. The college became considerably run down during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. On the walls leading up to the Chapel there are memorials to eighty-two former students who fell during World War I. A legacy became available to Cardinal Bourne, which was used to carry out badly needed repairs and additions. The college celebrated the 400th anniversary of its foundation in 1968. In 1975 the seminarians departed for the second time, moving to Chelsea but retaining the name of Allen Hall. The school expanded considerably in the 1970s. In 1974, girls from the nearby Poles Convent and elsewhere were admitted into the sixth form as the first step towards complete

coeducation Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...

, which was accomplished with the closure of Poles Convent in 1986. In 1996, an infants' department was added to the junior school, meaning that St Edmund's would now educate pupils aged 3–18. St Edmund's College celebrated its 450th anniversary in 2018.

Houses

Heads of house, assisted by a team of tutors, provide continuity of care throughout students' time at the college and are the normal means of contact between the college and parents. House spirit is encouraged through various inter-house competitions, sporting and cultural, and through house celebrations, ranging from formal dinners to summer barbecues. There are five houses (years of foundation in brackets): * Challoner (1922) * Douglass (1922) * Pole (1990) *

Poynter Poynter is an English occupational surname for the maker of cord that fastened doublet with hose (clothing). The name derives from the Middle English "poynte" and originally from the Latin "puncta", meaning to pierce. Poynter may also be an Anglic ...

(1970) * Talbot (1922) There are five former houses (years of existence in brackets): * Allen Hall (1922–1975) * Griffiths (1972–1984) *Junior House (1945–1953 and 1961–1993) * Margaret Pole (1975–1990) * Stapleton (1975–1996)

Boarding

Pupils may choose to board full time or on certain days of the week. There are two main boarding houses: Allen Hall (boys) and Garvey's (girls). The accommodation areas are supervised by residential staff.

''O Beate mi Edmunde''

The college anthem was composed by Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman for the solemn enshrinement of the Relic of St Edmund in the college chapel. The song has a total of 30 verses arranged into three decades, the first and third decades are each preceded and concluded with the following chorus, and the second decade with a variation of it. It is sung every year on the three days before 16 November, St Edmund's Day, when St Edmund is remembered. Ten verses are sung each day in chapel of what is called the Triduum. :''O Beate mi Edmunde x2,'' :''Sic pro me ad Filium Dei,'' :''Cum Maria preces funde x2,'' :''Ut per vos sim placens Ei.''

The Edmundian Association

The Edmundian Association was founded in 1853 and has members throughout the world. Its aim is to maintain a bond between the college and its alumni, and among members. Membership is available to past pupils of the college and their parents, parents of current pupils, and current and past members of staff.

Notable former pupils

Lay persons

* Chizzy Akudolu (born 1973) – actress on

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

drama

Holby City ''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a Spin-off (media), spin-off from the established BBC medical drama '' ...

* Jimmy Alcock (born 1932) – British-Venezuelan architect *Nicholas Bannister (1960-) - associate editor The Guardian * *

Francis Barraud Francis James Barraud (16 June 1856 – 29 August 1924) was an English painter. He is best known for his painting ''His Master's Voice'', one of the most famous commercial logos in the world, having been adopted as a recording industry trademark ...

(1856–1924) – painter of the

His Master's Voice His Master's Voice is an entertainment trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone. Painted by Francis Barraud in 1898, the image has since become a global symbol used across consumer elect ...

trademark * Alan Burns (1887–1980) – diplomat * Michel Jean Cazabon (1813–1888) – artist * Siobhan Daly (living) – producer and artistic director * Sikhanyiso Dlamini (born 1987) – Princess of Swaziland *

Simon Geoghegan Simon Patrick Geoghegan (born 1 September 1968) is an Irish former rugby union player who played at wing in England for London Irish and Bath and in the Irish Inter-provincial Championships for Connacht Rugby and the Irish Exiles. He finished ...

(born 1968) – Irish international rugby player * Everard Green (1844–1926) – Rouge Dragon Pursuivant and Somerset Herald,

College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional Officer of Arms, officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the ...

* Edward Henry (1850–1931) – pioneer of fingerprint usage in crime investigations * Tommie Hoban (born 1994) – professional footballer * Javier Iturriaga (born 1983) – professional footballer *

James Lynam Molloy James Lynam Molloy (19 August 1837 – 4 February 1909) was an Irish composer, poet, and author. His songs were praised by his contemporaries; one said that he "will be remembered, or certainly his songs will, long after the 'superior' and so-c ...

(1837–1909) – poet * Laurence Meynell (1899–1989) – novelist and children's writer * Nick Nieland (born 1972) – Commonwealth Games javelin gold medallist * Mervyn O'Gorman (1871–1958) – aeronautical engineer * Joseph O'Sullivan (1897–1922) – Irish nationalist * Henry Oxenham (1829–1888) – controversialist and poet * Everard Phillipps VC (1835–1857) – hero of the Indian Mutiny *

William Scholl William Mathias Scholl (June 22, 1882 – March 29, 1968) was a pioneer of foot care and the founder of Dr. Scholl's, a brand of foot care products. Early life and career William Mathias Scholl was born in La Porte, Indiana as one of 13 childr ...

(1882–1968) – footwear designer and businessman * Neville Stack (1896–1949) – test pilot, air racer and aviation pioneer * Aiden Turner (born 1977) – actor * Paul Alexander Zino (1916–2004) – ornithologist, after whom Zino's petrel is named

Clergy

(1861–1935) – Archbishop of Westminster, also buried here *

Adrian Fortescue Adrian Henry Timothy Knottesford Fortescue (14 January 1874 – 11 February 1923) was an Catholic Church in England and Wales, English Catholic priest and polymath. An influential liturgist, artist, calligrapher, composer, Polyglot (person ...

(1874–1923) – priest, scholar and adventurer * Reginald C. Fuller (1908–2011) – scripture scholar *Daniel Gilbert – Canon and Vicar General of the Diocese of Westminster 1868–95; founder of Providence Row Night Refuge * Bruce Kent (born 1929) – deconsecrated Roman Catholic priest and anti-war campaigner *

David Konstant David Every Konstant (16 June 1930 – 9 October 2016) was an English prelate and the Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds, England. Konstant had served as the eighth Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds, being succeeded by Arthur Ro ...

(1930–2016) – 8th Bishop of Leeds *

Ronald Knox Ronald Arbuthnott Knox (17 February 1888 – 24 August 1957) was an English Catholic priest, theologian Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an ...

(1888–1957) – satirist, essayist, novelist and translator * Declan Lang (born 1950) – Bishop of Clifton * George Michael Lenihan (1858–1910) – Fifth Catholic Bishop of

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

, New Zealand (1896–1910) *Edward Myers (1875–1956) – president of St Edmund's College 1918–32, Coadjutor Archbishop of Westminster 1951–6, Titular Archbishop of

Beroea Beroea (or Berea, ) was an ancient city of the Hellenistic period and Roman Empire now known as Veria (or Veroia) in Macedonia, Northern Greece. It is a small city on the eastern side of the Vermio Mountains north of Mount Olympus. The town is m ...

, editor, Clergy Review; namesake of Archbishop Myers Secondary School, now St Mark's Catholic School,

Hounslow Hounslow ( ) is a large suburban district of West London, England, west-southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hounslow, and is identified in the London Plan as one of the 14 metropolitan cen ...

The Catholic Who's Who, vol. 35, Francis Cowley Burnand, Burns & Oates, 1952, p. 328 * Frederick Oakeley (1802–1880) – translator of the carol "Adeste Fideles" into English *Clement Henry Parsons – founder and first headmaster of Finchley Catholic High School * James Scanlan (1899-1976) - Archbishop of Glasgow * George Stack (born 1946) – Archbishop of Cardiff * Herbert Vaughan (1832–1903) – Archbishop of Westminster * Derek Worlock (1920–1996) – Archbishop of Liverpool

References

Notes

External links

*
The Edmundian AssociationProfile
on the ISC website * {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Edmund's College, Ware Educational institutions established in the 1560s 1568 establishments in England Private schools in Hertfordshire Gothic Revival architecture in Hertfordshire Roman Catholic private schools in the Archdiocese of Westminster Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference Relocated schools Catholic boarding schools in England Boarding schools in Hertfordshire International Baccalaureate schools in England Former Catholic seminaries Ware, Hertfordshire