(12/9/09) St. Bede’s Hall, a Newman Guide recommended institution, announced on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, that it is relocating to a new permanent site at the heart of the City of Oxford, UK.

St. Bede’s is a small, independent Catholic college rooted in the vision of John Henry Cardinal Newman. The College is affiliated with the Oxford Oratory, a community that is part of the congregation established in the 16th century by St. Philip Neri. It maintains a close relationship with the Oratory in Birmingham, founded by Cardinal Newman. St. Bede’s focuses on educating undergraduate students from overseas, with academic credit available. Many of the faculty at the College are tutors at Oxford University and were formerly associated with Greyfriars Hall, the Catholic college in Oxford that closed in 2008.

With its new location at 42 St. Giles, Oxford, St. Bede’s Hall will enjoy a location central to the city of Oxford, with access to its treasures and resources. The new building dates from the nineteenth century and served as the site for the marriage between C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman on April 23, 1956. 

Fr. Sebastian Jones, Chairman of St. Bede’s Hall, said, “Ideas are not enough. They must become realised in our response to the Truth. This new property at 42 St. Giles will enable St. Bede’s Hall to take another step in its commitment to Cardinal Newman’s idea of what Catholic Higher Education can be. The work of St. Bede’s Hall is an act of faith in Christ who alone is the Truth.”

The official opening of the new location will be held on March 25, 2010, marking the first anniversary of St. Bede’s founding. Learn more about St. Bede’s Hall here and read the official press release here. St. Bede’s profile in The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, now a free online resource, is available here. Source: St. Bede’s Hall Press Release