Founding of The Birmingham Oratory by John Henry Newman
John Henry Newman (Feb 21, 1801-August 11, 1890) was initially an Anglican priest and a key figure in the Oxford Movement, which sought to renew the Church of England by reviving its Catholic roots. He converted to Catholicism in 1845, a decision that shocked Victorian England. His intellectual journey is detailed in his autobiographical “Apologia Pro Vita Sua” (1864), a classic defense of his conversion.
His simple statement was ” I consider the Roman Catholic Communion the Church of the Apostles.” For Newman, Roman Catholicism didn’t just claim to offer the truth; it was the Truth.
Newman founded the Birmingham Oratory in 1849, the first Oratorian community in England, where he lived until his death. He was a prolific writer, with works like “The Idea of a University” (1852) shaping modern Catholic education and “Grammar of Assent” (1870) exploring faith and reason. His hymn “Lead, Kindly Light” remains widely sung. Created a cardinal in 1879, he chose the motto Cor ad cor loquitur (“Heart speaks to heart”).Newman’s influence endures in theology, education, and ecumenism.
The Birmingham Oratory serves as his national shrine, housing relics like his desk and letters.
The introduction of the Oratory to England was the work of two prominent nineteenth century converts to Catholicism from Anglicanism, both John Henry Newman and Frederick William Faber. After Newman was received into the Catholic Church in October 1845, he wrote to Faber: “I have long felt special reverence and admiration for the character of St. Philip Neri, as far as I knew it, and was struck by your saying that his church in Rome was in the Vallicella – I wish we could all become good Oratorians, but that, I suppose, is impossible.”
Newman went to Rome to explore the possibility and returned to England with Pope Pius IX’s formal approval to establish an English Oratory. This was canonically erected at Birmingham in 1848, and a year later Newman asked Faber with other members of their group to found another Oratory in London.
The Oratory School, founded by Newman in 1859, was originally attached to the Oratory but was relocated to near Reading in 1922. The community continues to thrive, with other Oratories in London and York.
Saint John Henry Newman is buried in a small, secluded cemetery at Rednal Hill, near Birmingham. He shares the grave with his close friend and fellow Oratorian, Ambrose St. John.
We celebrate the Feast of Saint John Henry Newman on October 9, celebrating his conversion, rather than his birth or death anniversary.
In 2025, Pope Leo XIV announced that he would be declaring Saint John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church.
About the Birmingham Oratory:
The Birmingham Oratory, located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England, is a Catholic religious community and church of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, founded in 1849 by Saint John Henry Newman. It was the first Oratorian community established in England and serves as the national shrine to John Henry Newman, who was canonized in 2019.
Known as the Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception, it is often called the “Little Rome in Birmingham” due to its Baroque-style architecture, constructed between 1907 and 1910 as a memorial to Newman.
The church features a stunning interior with marble pillars, six side chapels, and vibrant mosaics, notably one depicting the Coronation of Saint Mary. The Oratory is renowned for its rich musical tradition, inspired by St. Philip Neri, with services featuring works by composers like Palestrina, Byrd, Mozart, and modern artists.
The Oratory houses relics, including St. Philip Neri’s spectacle case, and offers guided tours, a repository shop, and an adjoining museum.
The Birmingham Oratory also has historical significance, notably as a spiritual home for J.R.R. Tolkien during his childhood, influencing his Catholic faith.
Traveling to the Birmingham Oratory:
Birmingham has an international airport (Birmingham Airport) with connections to many major cities and is well-connected by train to other parts of the UK. National Express and other bus companies operate services to and from Birmingham. It is accessible via public transport and has a car park. If you are driving be aware of one-way roads nearby that require careful navigation. Access to the car park is via Plough and Harrow Road.
Address:
141 Hagley Road
Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 8UE
Phone: +44 (121) 454 0496
Click here for the official website of the Birmingham Oratory.