About the Venerable English College in Rome:
In 1362 a “hospice” was established here for English pilgrims, dedicated to the Trinity and Saint Thomas of Canterbury. This hospice provided lodging and support for English visitors to Rome.
On May 1, 1579 Pope Gregory XIII issued a bull, now celebrated as Founders’ Day, that established the College during the English Reformation to prepare Catholic priests for the “English Mission” amid persecution in England and Wales. The College’s church contains notable artworks and memorials, and it continues to serve as a center of English Catholic life in Rome. That mission has expanded over the years to include the Nordic counties as well.
The College played a vital role in preserving English Catholicism during the Elizabethan era and beyond. Many of its early alumni became martyrs, executed in England for their faith, which earned it the title “Venerable”. It has strong ties to figures like William Allen (a key founder alongside papal support) and has trained generations of clergy. It remains an active seminary. It houses seminarians and priests in formation (including some from outside England and Wales) under the direction of a Rector.
The Church of Saint Thomas of Canterbury ( San Tommaso di Canterbury), within the college, is the 19th century church of the Venerable English College. The dedication is to the archbishop and martyr St Thomas Becket of Canterbury in England.
It houses, on the high altar, Durante Alberti’s (c.1556–1623) masterpiece, “Holy Trinity with Angels and Saints Thomas of Canterbury and Edmund, King and Martyr” dating from 1581, while on the women’s gallery (the loggia above the two side aisles), an exceptional cycle of 34 paintings by Pomarancio (1552-1626) depicting, in brutal detail, the stories of English and Welsh saints and martyrs can be seen.
The Martyrs’ Chapel, built between 1680 and 1690, contains beautiful frescoes by the Jesuit painter, Andrea Pozzo, famous for his exceptional perspectives, and also houses an altarpiece by Pier Leone Ghezzi depicting the martyrdom of St. Thomas of Canterbury.
The Refectory is embellished by the monumental painting Christ in the House of the Pharisee and the fresco of St. George and the Dragon by Andrea Pozzo. In the other areas of the College that can be visited, a multitude of works recalling the millennial history of the institution are on display, among which: an English royal coat of arms dating back to 1412, once displayed above the entrance door; a memorial dated 1525 dedicated to Bishop John Clerk, who reformed the College between 1523 and 1525; a medieval bas-relief depicting wild animals; the carved ends of the wooden beams of the church dating back to the Middle Ages; coats of arms and portraits of English cardinals from the 16th century onwards.
The garden contains interesting fragments from the ancient medieval church.
Traveling to the Venerable English College in Rome:
The Venerable English College is located in Rome’s historic center, near the Tiber River and other historic sites. The public is invited to attend Holy Mass, which is celebrated in English regularly during term times (remember this is primarily a school) in the church of the Venerable English College. During term-time, Mass is usually open to the public at 10:00 am on Sundays and 6:30 pm on Wednesdays (check their website for details). In 2026 The Venerable English College began opening its doors to the public for the first time, allowing visitors to admire seven hundred years of the history of an extraordinary complex that has been a hospice for pilgrims, the seat of a confraternity, a noble palace, a barracks for French soldiers during the Napoleonic occupation of Rome and, since 1579, a seminary, a role it still plays today.
The College itself occasionally opens to the public for guided tours (e.g., Saturday mornings in some periods). Check its official website below for current details, as access is limited due to its active seminary function. It maintains connections with English and Welsh dioceses and has support groups like the North American Friends of the VEC.
You may want to take the opportunity to stay at Palazzola, their beautiful villa outside Rome, on the shores of Lake Albano.
Address:
Venerabile Collegio Inglese
via di Monserrato 45
Roma 00186, Italy
Email: reception@vecrome.org
Telephone: (Reduced hours in operation outside term-time).
+39 06 6868546, +39 06 6865808, +39 06 6877258
Fax: +39 06 6867607
Visit the official website of the Venerable English College in Rome.