Cardinal Newman

A carte-de-visite portrait of Saint John Henry Newman (1801-1890), English Roman Catholic theologian.

While still an Anglican, Newman wrote a series of Tracts for the Times, which gave their name to the Tractarian Movement (subsequently called the Oxford Movement) for the revival of Catholicism. He became a Roman Catholic in 1845 and in 1864 published his autobiography Apologia pro vita sua. He was made a Cardinal in 1879.

For 32 years Newman shared his life with Father Ambrose St John. When the latter died in 1875, Newman wrote: ‘I have ever thought no bereavement was equal to that of a husband's or a wife's, but I feel it difficult to believe that any can be greater, or any one's sorrow greater, than mine.’ He directed that he be buried in the same grave as St John: ‘I wish, with all my heart, to be buried in Fr Ambrose St John's grave — and I give this as my last, my imperative will.’

In 1991, Newman was proclaimed venerable after an examination of his life and work by the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints. On 19 September 2010 Newman was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI. On 13 October 2019 he was canonised by Pope Francis.

Photographed by RW Thrupp of Birmingham.