About Us

Who we are and what we do

The Christian Heritage
Centre at Stonyhurst

The Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst exists to offer a deeper spiritual and intellectual engagement with the Christian Faith, inspired by the wealth of Christian heritage housed at Stonyhurst College. This collection of relics, artefacts and books, accumulated by the Society of Jesus and which testifies to the Christian Faith of this country, has been used over the centuries to teach and inspire.

We aim to continue in this tradition by providing opportunities and facilities for education and study, for Christian leadership formation, and for religious retreat.

The Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst has supported the refurbishment of the Historic Libraries and Museum at Stonyhurst College and has restored the historic water mill into a residential and education facility: Theodore House.

Patrons

The Christian Heritage Centre owes its existence to the support and hard work of many. We are especially thankful to all our patrons for their support.

Royal Patrons

Lord and Lady Nicholas Windsor

HE Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

HE Cardinal Christoph Schonbörn, Archbishop of Vienna

HE Cardinal Renato Martino

Rt Rev. John Arnold, Bishop of Salford

Rt Rev. Nicholas Reade, former Bishop of Blackburn

Rt Rev. Terence Brain, Bishop Emeritus of Salford

The Very Rev. Fr Damian Howard SJ, Provincial of the Society of Jesus in Britain

The Hon John Bruton, KCMCO

The Rt. Hon Baroness Cox of Queensbury

Bill Cash MP

Field Marshal the Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, GCB, LVO, OBE, DL, KCSG, KM, KCJCO

The Rt Hon. Lord Shuttleworth, Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire

John Studzinski CBE KSG

Nigel Evans MP

Prof. the Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield FBA

Sir Edward Leigh MP

Prof. Nasser David Khalili KCSS KCFO

The Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe PC

Leonard Leo

The Rt Hon. Baron Brennan of Bibury KCSG QC

Ilyas Khan KSG

Trustees

The Centre has been guided from its inception, through the building of Theodore House, to a plan for continued development by its dedicated trustees, who continue to bring their expertise to bear in the Centre’s work.

Dr Michael D Hurley (Chairman)

Anton’ de Piro (Vice-Chairman)

Franz Forrester

John Browne (Headmaster, Stonyhurst College)

Anthony Chitnis (Chair of Governors, Stonyhurst College)

Ryan Christopher

Fr Toby Lees, OP

Dr Rebekah Lamb

Matthew Riley

Mike Laking

Founders

The charity is particularly indebted to its founders, whose vision enabled the realisation of Theodore House.

Prof. the Lord Alton of Liverpool KCSG Founding Chairman

John Cowdall KSG (deceased)

Advisory & Staff

The charity is grateful to the following people, who continue to offer their expertise in an advisory capacity. The Centre’s operation and continued development relies on the daily work and collaboration of the current team.

Jane Leek – Safeguarding