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St John Henry Newman was the Vicar of the University Church in Oxford from 1828-1843. Newman's public ministry began in Oxford just over 200 years ago, when he was ordained as an Anglican priest in Christ Church Cathedral. During this period, he was a faithful parish priest and he established a new church at Littlemore, which continues to serve that community. Newman also became one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement. The publication of the 'Tracts for the Times' led to the Catholic Revival of the Church of England and the renewal of its worship and ministry. In 1845, he became a Roman Catholic and was subsequently ordained as a Roman Catholic priest. He became a priest of the Oratory of St Philip Neri in Birmingham. In 1879, he was made a Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII.
When Newman was canonised in 2019 by Pope Francis in Rome, Anglicans and Roman Catholics gathered together with senior representatives of the University a few days later to celebrate this event at an ecumenical service at the University Church.
The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, said: "It was a real privilege to travel to Rome in October 2019 with others from Oxford for John Henry Newman’s canonisation. All Anglicans will rejoice that Pope Leo has now opened the way for Newman to be declared a Doctor of the Universal Church, an extraordinary honour. Newman’s great hymns and poems include Lead Kindly Light and Praise to the Holiest in the Height and are loved by so many Christians of all traditions. He left a tremendous legacy of reflection on a wide variety of subjects, particular the nature and role of the Church in the contemporary world. This step means Newman’s legacy as an Anglican and as a Roman Catholic will be read and studied for generations to come. My prayer is that his being named as a Doctor of the Church will give fresh impetus to the search for Christian unity in our generation."
The Revd Canon Dr William Lamb, Vicar of the University Church, said, "We rejoice that St John Henry Newman has been declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV. Although he ultimately left the Church of England and became a Roman Catholic in 1845, Newman had an extraordinary impact on the life of the Church of England. His writings and published sermons from before 1845 are just as significant as his writings as a Roman Catholic.
Later in his life, when republishing the University Sermons which he preached while Vicar of the University Church, Newman commented that he thought that they were the best things that he had ever written, and then added, 'I cannot believe that they are not Catholic'. As the Vatican declares Newman as a Doctor of the Universal Church, we give thanks for the recognition of his preaching and teaching as both an Anglican and as a Roman Catholic, particularly his perspectives on the development of doctrine, on conscience, and the idea of a University. This is why as Anglicans we can celebrate the news today with the same joy as our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, and we can celebrate the great friendship that exists between members of both churches."