User:OrangeDog/Cambridge University Catholic Chaplaincy

The Cambridge University Catholic Chaplaincy, known as Fisher House after English martyr and Cambridge chancellor St. John Fisher, is the Catholic chaplaincy for members of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1896, it is now located on Guildhall Street in the centre of Cambridge.

Operation

Finances managed by the Cambridge University Catholic Association (CUCA). Chaplain and assistants appointed by Oxford and Cambridge Catholic Association Board (OCCEB). Day-to-day operation handled by the chaplain and the student-run Fisher Society. The chaplain and their assistants oversee the pastoral care of university members, while the Fisher Society committee organises social events.

About 500 people come to the three Sunday Masses, including one in Latin, and 30 to 40 attend daily Mass. (EWTN)

Regular events

Mass every weekday in term. Four Sunday Masses - vigil in the extraordinary form, sung Latin Mass, sung English mass and said English mass. Annual Fisher Mass in Great St Mary's, Gilbey requiem.

Fisher dinner, fancy dress saints and sinners, garden party at local Dominican priory, annual series of Fisher Lectures.

SVP work, bible study, discussion groups on Catholicism, ethics, philosophy, poetry, etc., bar, lunches

Music

Schola Cantorum provides traditional plainchant mass settings and classical motets. Recent tours to Paris, Munich and Sicily. English choir provides traditional hymns and other church music.

Pope Benedict XVI

As Cardinal John Ratzinger, visited in January 1988 to give a Fisher Lecture on Consumer Materialism and Christian Hope. Later made a personal donation of €3000 to the chaplaincy in 2007. One of the guest rooms is called the Papal Suite.

History

Fisher house borrows the arms of its patron, St John Fisher

Foundation and Early Years (1856-1924)

Cambridge University Act (1856) - non-Anglicans allowed to become college members and receive degrees. Not allowed fellowships until 1871.
CPF decrees that attending Oxbridge is a danger to faith, to public dismay (Newman)
1895 - Prohibition lifted after petition led by Baron Anatole von Hügel, with the requirement that courses on philosophy, history and religion are provided
- Not more than 12 undergrads in any year previously
- University Catholic Education Board founded
- Nolan appointed 16 Jan
- Fisher Society founded as a literary and debating society
1896 - Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk buys buildings; chaplaincy established at St Edmunds House in Nov

1899 - CUCA founded
- Rooms at 2 Green Street rented by CUCA in Oct
1902 - Barnes moves into Llandaff House, backing onto Downing
Marshall rented rooms at 50 Bridge Street, then 2 Round Church Street from the Union

Oxford and Cambridge forced to open doors to Catholics in 1871 after the repeal of the Test Act. In 1867 Rome ruled "that it is next to impossible to find circumstances in which non-Catholic universities could be frequented without mortal sin". By 1890s Catholic scholars had become fellows including Baron Anatole von Hügel. Due to petitions from academics and wealthy Catholic families the ban was lifted in 1895 and the chaplaincy was founded the following year, with Fr Edmund Nolan as chaplain.

The next chaplain, Monsignor Barnes, purchased Llandaff House (now demolished) on St. Andrew's street to house the chaplaincy, having previously been moved to Bridge Street, then at Round Church Street near the Union. After a brief closure during the war, Fr Bernard Marshall and then Fr John Lopes were appointed chaplain.

Fisher House (1924-present)

1924 - Black Swan bought by CUCA for £10,000 with £2500 spent on alterations
- Chaplaincy moved there and named Fisher House
1925 - official opening 4 May, feast of John Fisher
Gilbey was previous president of the Fisher Society
1937 - women's chaplaincy founded at Lady Margaret House
Old chapel located in upper room
1966 - Women's chaplaincy merged into Fisher House
1967 - new hall and side chapel built
2008 - appeal allows hall to become permanent chapel

An interesting cluster of buildings, two old houses, joined at right angles to each other. One (housing library incl. student bar and kitchen, studies) overhangs the street and is 16th century. The other (housing dining room, kitchens, great chamber, living quarters) is reached via alleyways and is early 17th century with medieval cellars. The Great Chamber on the first floor, well lit with oak beams and antique furniture, paintings and tapestry, is one of the most pleasant rooms in Cambridge.(Murville & Jenkins)

Buildings re-arranged. Hall constructed. £2 million appeal. Cimabue crucifix.

Chaplains

Fr Edmund Nolan (1896-1905)
Mgr Arthur Barnes (1905-1916)
Fr James Bernard Marshall (1918-1922)
Fr John Lopes (1922-1928)
Fr George MacGillivray (1928-1932)
Mgr Alfred Gilbey (1932-1965)
Fr Richard Incledon (1965-1977)
Fr Maurice Couve de Murville (1977-1982)
Dom Christopher Jenkins, OSB (1982-1988)
Fr John Osman (1988-1994)
Fr Allan White, OP (1995-2001)
Fr Alban McCoy, OFM Conv (2001-present)

Famous speakers

Possible sources

"The city of Cambridge: Roman Catholicism", A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3: The City and University of Cambridge, p. 138, 1959
Gerard Noel (28 March 1998). "Obituary: Monsignor Alfred Gilbey". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
"Maurice Couve de Murville". The Daily Telegraph. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
Madeleine Beard (May 2000). "The Legacy of Monsignor Alfred Gilbey, 1901 - 1998". Latin Mass Society. Retrieved 2009-10-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
"New Crucifix for Cambridge University Chaplaincy". Diocese of Westminster. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
Papers of Baron Anatole von Hügel (1854-1928) and the Cambridge University Catholic Association, Cambridge University Archives, GBR/0265/SOC.IV
Lara Broecke (2009). "Reconstruction of an early Italian style Crucifix". Hamilton Kerr Institute. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
"Pope contributes to priest appeal". BBC News. 28 January 2007. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
"Pope Lends Support to Cambridge Catholic Chaplaincy Appeal". University of Cambridge. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
The Letters and Diaries of John Henry Newman. Vol. 23. Oxford University Press. 1973.
Couve de Murville, M.N.L.; Jenkins, Philip (1983). Catholic Cambridge. Catholic Truth Society. ISBN 0-85183-494-9.
Evennett, H.O. (1946), "The Cambridge Prelude to 1895", The Dublin Review (437): 111
Joan Lewis (30 January 2007). "Pope Benedict Donates £2,000 to Cambridge Catholic Chaplaincy". EWTN. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
Rogers, Nicholas (2003). Catholics in Cambridge. Gracewing Publishing. ISBN 978-0852445686.

External links

Fisher House official website

Wanted images

Courtyard incl. Gilbey's grave and Our Lady plaque
View from Fisher Square incl. "Chapel of St John Fisher" sign
View from top of Grand Arcade incl. roof garden
Ratzinger visit image? (in archive vol. III)

52°12′17″N 0°07′12″E / 52.20459°N 0.11989°E / 52.20459; 0.11989

Category:Religious organizations established in 1896 Category:Roman Catholic Church in England Category:University of Cambridge Category:Buildings and structures in Cambridge [[:Category:Religion in Cambridge]