In a reassuring reminder that disappointing exam results are no barrier to great achievement in later (and indeed the next) life, our 19th century alumnus St John Henry Newman was formally declared a ‘Doctor of the Church’ by Pope Leo XIV on Saturday morning – a title given by the Roman Catholic church to saints who make an eminent contribution to theology or doctrine through their research, study or writing.

Newman was a key figure in 19th century English church life. As a leading member of the Oxford Movement, he urged the Church of England to rediscover its pre-Reformation roots but then caused great controversy by becoming a Roman Catholic in 1845 (and eventually a Cardinal in 1879).

In his writings, he discussed how religious truth develops, the role of lay people in the church, the importance of conscience and philosophy of belief. Pope Leo said of him on Saturday: “Newman’s impressive spiritual and cultural stature will surely serve as an inspiration to new generations whose hearts thirst for the infinite, and who, through research and knowledge, are willing to undertake that journey which, as the ancients said, takes us per aspera ad astra, through difficulties to the stars”.

Newman came to Trinity as an undergraduate in 1817 at the age of just 16. He was elected to a Scholarship and had rooms in Garden Quad. Our Archivist Clare Hopkins describes him as a “particularly highly strung and assiduous scholar” who took a dim view of the boozy culture of the day: “If anyone should ask me what qualifications were necessary for Trinity College, I should say there was only one – drink, drink, drink.”

Newman was expected to get a Double First but worked too hard and had a disaster in his final exams. The College was sympathetic, and he was elected nonetheless to a Fellowship at Oriel (which he did not like as much as Trinity). In 1877 he was delighted to become our first Honorary Fellow. “Trinity was never unkind to me”, he recalled.

But Newman remained a controversial figure in Oxford after his death, thanks to his conversion. Plans in 1892 to erect a life size marble statue of him opposite the college gates in Broad Street had to be abandoned after protests to Oxford City Council, including an ‘indignation meeting’ of 1000 people at the Town Hall undeterred by an influenza pandemic. The statue went instead to London, where it now stands outside the Brompton Oratory in South Kensington. Instead, we commemorate him, perhaps at more tasteful scale, with a portrait and the bronze bust overlooking the garden.

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John Henry Newman and Trinity

John Henry Newman to receive one of the Catholic Church's highest honours