English College, Lisbon


The English College, Lisbon was a Roman Catholic seminary that existed from the 17th century to the 20th century.

Early history

In 1624 a college for English students wishing to study for the Catholic priesthood, and for mission work in England, was founded in Lisbon by Pedro Coutinho, a member of a prominent family. It was known as SS. Peter and Paul's. It was awarded the same rights and privileges as the English College, Rome and was one of the Pontifical Colleges in the sense of being centrally controlled from Rome, one of the substantial group of institutions set up with the aim of maintaining the Catholic faith in England, Ireland, and Scotland.
The moving force behind the foundation was the priest William Newman, though he never became head of the College. Newman had been entrusted with property from the estate of the late Nicholas Ashton, a Catholic chaplain in Lisbon. Initial progress was slow after a papal brief of Pope Gregory XV in 1622, with only a church erected on property given by Coutinho, who also gave endowment. Richard Smith, the Catholic bishop in England, took a hand and sent one of his archdeacons, Joseph Haynes. The foundation was supported by the arrival of group of students and teachers from the English College, Douai in 1628, the first president being Haynes. Haynes, however, then died quite suddenly, shortly after the college opened in 1629.
The second president was Thomas White, alias Blacklow, with William Clifford as vice-president. He was at the College for three years from 1630. His rules for its governance brought it under the Bishop of Chalcedon. Pursuing further funding and students in England, he was dissatisfied at the results and resigned.

Later history

It suffered severely from the earthquake of 1755, but continued its work. The College finally closed in 1973.

People associated with the College