King Charles III became the first English monarch to visit the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Birmingham a significant stop at the priestly community founded by St. John Henry Newman in 1848
Newsroom (08/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) King Charles III became the first English monarch to visit the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Birmingham on Wednesday, a brief but significant stop at the priestly community founded by St. John Henry Newman in 1848. The visit, described as a personal initiative of His Majesty, marked his first public engagement following the summer recess and coincided with the opening of a new hospital in England’s second-largest city.
Father Ignatius Harrison, provost of the Birmingham Oratory, welcomed the king alongside Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham. The monarch, dressed in a sharp gray suit with a red patterned tie, toured the sacred grounds, including the church, a shrine housing Newman’s relics, the sacristy with his vestments, and the saint’s preserved library and study. “He was very engaged, very interested, and exceedingly kind,” Father Harrison told the Register, describing the visit as a “red-letter day” for the Oratorian community.
The king’s tour, guided by Daniel Joyce, curator of the Newman Museum, showcased artifacts such as a 1657 Polyglot Bible dedicated to King Charles II and Newman’s untouched room, preserved since his death in 1890, containing his books, rosaries, and personal effects. Of particular interest was Newman’s private study and chapel, where the king posed thoughtful questions, and the original handwritten score of The Dream of Gerontius, Newman’s poignant poem about a soul’s journey to judgment and purgatory. A viola from 1800, once owned by Newman, also captured the monarch’s attention.
St. John Henry Newman, a towering figure in 19th-century theology, transitioned from an Anglican clergyman to a Catholic cardinal, canonized in 2019 in a ceremony attended by then-Prince Charles. Known for his role in the Oxford Movement and his intellectual legacy, Newman will be proclaimed the 38th doctor of the Church by Pope Leo, as announced by the Vatican in July. King Charles, now supreme head of the Church of England, expressed curiosity about the “ecumenical dimension” of this designation, referencing his meetings with Pope Francis and his hope to meet Pope Leo soon.
The visit, originally planned five years ago during Newman’s canonization, was delayed by extensive roof repairs at the Oratory and further postponed in July due to the king’s ongoing cancer treatment. “We were terribly disappointed,” Father Harrison said of the earlier cancellation, but he praised the king’s persistence. “It shows a real, personal interest on His Majesty’s behalf that he pursued the matter.”
During the visit, the Oratorian Fathers presented King Charles with a plaque to commemorate the occasion and an original 1860s photograph of Newman. Father Harrison highlighted the king’s fascination with Newman’s holistic sanctity, evident in his care for the poor as both an Anglican and a Catholic. “He took great pains to assist the unemployed to find work,” Father Harrison noted, recounting Newman’s practice of giving five-pound notes—significant sums at the time—to help individuals clear debts and rebuild their lives. The king, visibly intrigued, also learned of Newman’s almsgiving and his enduring influence across religious divides.
The Birmingham Oratory today draws a diverse congregation, with over a thousand worshippers attending weekend Masses, many attracted to the traditional Latin Mass. Father Harrison emphasized the ethnic diversity of the attendees, including Asians, Africans, and a growing number of Chinese Catholics from Hong Kong, as well as students from Birmingham’s three universities. The king took keen interest in this vibrant community, particularly its appeal to younger and international faithful.
Reflecting on Newman’s legacy in 2019, then-Prince Charles wrote in L’Osservatore Romano that Newman’s faith was “truly catholic in that it embraced all aspects of life.” He added, “We can only be grateful to Newman for the gifts, rooted in his Catholic faith, which he shared with wider society.” The king’s visit underscores this sentiment, bridging historical reverence with a modern appreciation for Newman’s universal appeal.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from National Catholic Register
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