Wonersh, St. John

St. John’s Diocesan Seminary was commenced at Henfield, near Brighton, by the late Bishop Butt in the August of 1889. The house was an old compact mansion near the parish church. The village of Henfield is famous for being the birthplace of the illustrious Catholic divine, the Rev. Dr. Stapleton, of Louvain ( 1799). Fr. Bourne, now Archbishop of Westminster, was the first rector, the number of students at the outset being about twelve.

The idea of a separate diocesan seminary had long been before the Southwark authorities, and Bishop Danell first appealed for funds to start one in 1874. At first, Clapham was selected as the site, but ultimately abandoned as being too much in London. In August 1889, the foundation stone of the seminary at Wonersh was laid by Bishop Butt, and in 1891 the building was occupied by the students from Henfield.

The style of the edifice is that of the Queen Anne period, from a design of Mr. E. A. Walters, K.S.A. The oblong Romanesque chapel opened on May 4, 1890, in the presence of Cardinal Vaughan, Bishop Butt, Bishop Bourne, &c., was the gift of Mr. Brodrick, of Brighton. In addition to the high altar, which has been lately adorned by the addition of a handsome baldachino and a splendid marble reredos, displaying mosaic figures of the patron saints of the seminary, there are several side altars. The Lady Chapel, with its alabaster altar and reredos, adorned with pictures in opus sectile , is also well worthy of attention. A handsome organ, by Bishop, has recently been added to the chapel.

The number of students for the priesthood at present amounts to about ninety. These are divided into seniors and juniors, the former comprising the divines and philosophers and the latter the ‘ humanitarians.’ The junior course of study culminates in the Arts examination of the London University, in which great success has been achieved. The rectors of St. John’s have been : (1) Bishop (now Archbishop) Bourne (1889 97) ; (2) Fr. G. Barrett, D.D., now of Richmond, Surrey (1897-99); (8) Mgr. Joseph Butt, 1900 to date.

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