Cardinal Newman Heritage Project

On 27th January the Cardinal Newman Heritage Project visits Oxford – Littlemore, the place where John Henry Newman was officially received into the Catholic Church.

This promises to be a fascinating visit and all interested members of the local community are welcome, whatever your faith.

Please get in touch by leaving a message here, or calling the Oratory School on 0121 454 0600 to register for the trip, or to find out more.

Deacon Jack Sullivan from Boston USA, who was cured of a crippling spinal disease after praying to Cardinal Newman, founder of the Oratory Church, visited Ladywood in November 2009.

In an exclusive interview with our media partners, TNT News, he told how the Vatican earlier this year approved the cure as a miracle and Newman is likely to be made a saint next year.

You can view the video here.

A group of 20 local people, including children and parents from the Oratory RC Nursery and Junior School, the TNT news team and older residents from Ladywood, visited St Mary’s College in Oscott. All parties had a very stimulating and informative visit to this seminary, including the chapel, library and museum.

Visitors were split into two groups. The children and some parents were taken on a study tour by Gerald Boylan, the schools outreach tutor for the college. The adults were shown round by Dr Judith Champ, the Director of Studies (Archives and Church History).

As well all the other areas of the college, all participants were shown the museum, which was designed and set up by Augustus Welby Pugin, who went on to design many other public buildings including the Palace of Westminster. Pugin also designed, down to last detail the interior of the college, and in particular the chapel which is a unique and beautiful example of gothic church architecture.

The children were given study tasks to undertake and both they and the adults were able to see a unique set of religious items, some of which belonged to Cardinal Newman. The visit ended with a mass in the chapel which the visitors were invited to attend. The TNT team led by Norman Bartlam, the project historian were able to film some parts of the interior and rounded off the visit with a visit to the grave of Alfred Knight, a resident of Ladywood who was awarded the VC in the first world war.

On the return to the school all participants took part in a study session where the children worked with the older residents and were able to share what they had learned and to record the key points. This session also provided the basis for the community learning event on the 1st December.

Charlotte and David at Spring Hill Library

Last month the Cardinal Newman Project was represented at a community fun day organised by Complete Kidz at Spring Hill Library. The event promoted the benefits of healthy eating and an active lifestyle to the community.

Project team members Charlotte and David (pictured) set up and manned a stall with the latest information on the project and some historical images of Ladywood.

As local children were treated to face painting, ghost stories and fun competitions, parents were able to browse the library’s other exhibitions such as the Black History Month and our own Cardinal Newman Project.

We promoted to the project to several interested parents and many more took away an information leaflet detailing some of the upcoming events.

This week the Norman Power Centre hosted our first learning session for the Cardinal Newman Heritage Project. Five elderly residents of Ladywood joined the session and watched two video excerpts, one about a bombing of paint factory in Ladywood during the war, and a reenactment of a tram cash by children.

Following these, the residents were asked to imagine they were standing outside their front door in Ladywood as a child, and to explain their memories.

We captured a fascinating range of memories, including a lot from the Oratory School and from Ladywood during wartime.

This exercise was a great success and we will repeating it throughout the course of the project. If you’d like to get involved, or would like to give us your memories of life in Ladywood, please use the contact form on this website.

The Cardinal Newman Project was officially launched at the Norman Power Centre on 29th September. Approximately 50 people were in attendance including the childrens choir from the Oratory School who kept everyone entertained before the formalities began.

Invited guests in attendance included Father Sebastian and Father Anton from the Birmingham Oratory, several residents of the Norman Power Centre, parishioners of the Birmingham Oratory, teachers and children from the Oratory School and Councillors Deirdre Alden and James Hutchings from Edgabston ward.

Several representatives from the project’s managing organisation Pisces WM were present including Director John White and Project Manager Robin Taylor. Others involved in the project who were present for the launch included local historian Norman Bartlam, representatives from local libraries and the Ladywood Project, plus local resident David Nikel who has advised on community engagement and set up this website.

Guests heard from Father Sebastian and Project Manager Robin Taylor who explained what the project will try to achieve and outlined the future events planned. We were then all treated to a fantastic buffet courtesy of the Norman Power Centre.

The Cardinal Newman Project is to be officially opened at the Norman Power Centre, Skipton Road, Ladywood, on 29th September. Local residents and interested parties will get the opportunity to find out more about the project and some of the partners, such as the Ladywood Project, Spring Hill Library, Pisces WM and TNT News.

Entertainment will be provided by a children’s choir from the Oratory School in Ladywood.

Please contact us using the “Get Involved” page if you are interested in attending.

Do you have any stories on the impact of Cardinal Newman’s work on Ladywood? Did you attend the Oratory school?