UPDATE 22.5.11
John has asked me to remove the pictures as the seminary are worried about people seeing them and encouraging them to break in and commit further vandalism. I`ve left the last one, which seems safe enough, of the seminarians. I notice also that the pictures have gone from the urbexforums website too.
John has asked me to remove the pictures as the seminary are worried about people seeing them and encouraging them to break in and commit further vandalism. I`ve left the last one, which seems safe enough, of the seminarians. I notice also that the pictures have gone from the urbexforums website too.
I was away last week at the Canon Law Society conference in Harrogate: more on that later. While I was away I received an email from John Bagnall of Ushaw. The remaining Ushaw seminarians have been taken on a tour of the boarded up Junior House. John took a few photos and sent me them to share as a change from links to photos taken by groups who are interested in derelict buildings. So here we are. Just one comment: the statue of Our Lady looks a bit cleaner than in recent photos. I hope someone can find it a good home.
I assume the last picture is of the surviving seminarians. The only person I recognise is one of our permanent deacons who teaches there. Another is, I think, a woman. It is somewhat sad that with only about a month to go nothing has been heard about the future of this irreplaceable part of our Catholic heritage.
8 comments:
As you know, Father, I have been trying for almost a year to do something about the statue. After an initial contact with the President, all has gone quiet. Of course, I understand that the Ushaw authorities have had rather more on their plate in recent months than bothering about what will now be seen as a very unimportant little artefact.
We will need to monitor very carefully what arrangements are to be made to dispose of the two centuries of treasures lying within the walls of Alma Mater.
I still get very upset whenever I see pictures of the Junior House Chapel - it meant so much to me, and to generations of Ushaw Men.
Terry Middleton
Can we here at St Mary's Church, Forest Hall not offer a loving home to this beautiful statue?
As you mention a few days ago, Father, we are still waiting for news about Ushaw College. In this case I wouldn't say that no news is good news, but is not bad news either.
As we know, the church of SS Peter and Paul at New Brighton was closed two years ago, and its future seemed bleak (conversion into flats, demolition), but it has now been reopened and the Institute of Christ the King is likely to take over its running (we are all waiting for this official announcement as well).
I'm sure bishop Davies will do his best for Ushaw as he did for SS Peter and Paul.
It seems even more concerning that John Bagnall spent time at Valladolid expecting to complete his priestly formation in his home diocese & then has to go to Rome. Whilst not denigrating training in Rome surely it would be better for our priests to continue their training there after ordination. This would enable them to specialise & would give priests worldwide the opportunity of formation in home diocese (or countries) then go on to Rome following ordination. Additionally, experts in various fields could be based in Rome to provide the specialist training.
I wouldn`t be too upset about going to Rome. I was aksed three times at selection conference whether I`d like to go to Rome. I said yes and was a bit disappointed to find I was going to Ushaw.
What an untidy bunch.
Mgr Grant will be turning in his grave.
Which one is the woman?
Some very belated comments from this (now ex-Ushaw) seminarian who submitted these pictures. First, the group who made the junior house tour were very much mixed and included only a handful of seminarians. These final Ushaw men were accompanied by Sister Helen,one of Ushaw's then pastoral directors, Deacon Vince Purcell, Matthew the librarian/archivist and a visiting New Zealand biblical scholar, Father Kevin Waldie.
Secondly, thanks to David O'Neill for your comments. I never expected to pursue my priestly formation in three different countries: Valladolid, Spain, Ushaw College, Durham and in September, the Beda College in Rome. But God works in mysterious ways and I am thankful to have received so much from so many people in this last two years.
I hope the Ushaw / Douai tradition may continue somehow through those seminarians who will continue at Oscott this Autumn and also through myself and Kevin from Salford diocese, who will be joining me in Rome this September. Please pray for us!
Thanks John. Hope all goes well at the Beda.
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