This superb publication celebrates some of the successes and aspirations of the founders of Ushaw College. The text is principally the contributions of three Ushaw academics. Rev Dr D Milburn, M Sharratt and P Phillips.
Together they chart the passage from Douai, Belgium to Ushaw a hilltop to the north west of Durham city. It describes how the College defended its largely independent status before the establishment of the catholic hierarchy. When the higher educational system became more accessible to Catholics the quality of the younger students improved. The College slowly broadened the academic curriculum and after the second ‘Vatican Council’, its pastoral and social training. The major changes in seminary formation and the closure of minor seminaries allowed the College to embrace a newer and wider role in the formation of the catholic community in the Northern Province and beyond.
The real success of this celebratory publication is the number and quality of the pictures which the editor Bill Campbell (a former student) has interwoven into the narrative.
The pictures celebrate the student life over many generations, illustrating some aspects of academic, spiritual and social activity. The physical beauty of the buildings and surrounding area are an illustration of the well chosen location.
The College has many internal delights. The chapels and stained glass are sumptuously captured by John Fryer (also a former student and a professional photographer).
The College chapels are a treasure. The artefacts and sacred vessels which have been donated to the College are lavishly presented.
The St Cuthbert’s Society (Ushaw) has generously supported the College in the preparation of this celebrated publication and all proceeds will be for the benefit of present and future students. They have undertaken the marketing and promotion of this anniversary book and underwritten all the production costs
The 21st Century offers a new challenge to the College and its supporters. This book is the closure of one set of challenges charting the reestablishment of catholic life in the ‘Northern Province’ which reached its zenith in the post war years.