Abbot General Aloysius Santini

Aloysius Santini, born about 1838, was the Abbot General of the Canons Regular of the Lateran for 19 years. He was based in Rome but came to Spetisbury at least twice in 1893 and 1896. He died in office in 1905.

Abbot Felix Menchini

Felix Menchini was sent to England in 1881 to restore the order. He was Prior of Bodmin and Visitor of the English Province from 1884 to 1891 when he was recalled to Rome. He was involved in the negotiations for Marnhull and Spetisbury and visited both many times. He acted as a trouble-shooter on many occasions.

Laurence Donelan

Laurence Donelan was born on 7th February 1862 in County Cork, Ireland as William Bernard Donelan, the third of nine children of John Donelan, an officer in the Royal Irish Constabulary. He studied at Marnhull, Bodmin and Spetisbury and made his solemn profession at Spetisbury in 1893: he was ordained in 1896. In 1898 he was sent to Bodmin and in 1899 to Stroud Green. In 1902 he was the Westminster Cathedral Chaplain and in 1904 took charge of the mission at West Drayton. In 1908 he served as Rector at Wapping and in 1911 he moved to Essex to take charge of the new mission at Billericay. He served as parish priest of Witham from 1912 to 1918 and then served as Chaplain to St. Charles’ School, Brentwood. In 1922 he retired to Ireland and died in Cork on 15^th April 1944 aged 82 years. In his final years he was an invalid, suffering from acute rheumatism, but despite this “he was very active in organising concerts and entertainments in hospitals and other institutions, doing much to bring amusement and laughter to the inmates.” (The Cork Examiner)

Alphonsus McElroy

Alphonsus McElroy was born in 1877 in Liverpool, Lancs as Richard McElroy. He was educated at Cotton College and, on leaving school, entered the family shipping business. However, he found that his vocation was for the priestly life as lived by the Canons Regular of the Lateran. Going to Bodmin in 1902, he was received and made his profession in 1903. He arrived at Spetisbury in 1904. After making his ecclesiastical studies at Louvain, he was ordained in 1908. After a year in Scotland, he was made parish priest at Truro. In 1911 he was appointed Prior of Bodmin and remained in that office until 1920. As Prior he was responsible for the erection of churches at Padstow, Fowey and St. Austell. In 1920 he became parish priest at Launceston and while there, he built the present church and presbytery at Bude. In 1942 he entered hospital for a slight operation but died 4 days later on 28th April and was buried at Bodmin.

Clement McGuiness

Clement McGuiness was born about 1879 in Liverpool, Lancs as Thomas McGuiness. He arrived in Spetisbury from Shap Cell in 1899 and was still there in 1903. In 1911 he was a priest in Newquay, Cornwall. he died in 1943 in Cornwall.

Charles Brighton

Charles Brighton was born in 1879 in Birmingham, Warwicks. He arrived in Spetisbury from Shap Cell in 1899 and was ordained there in 1904. The first few years of his priesthood were spent in Cornwall (apart from a brief spell of work in Dorset); afterwards he worked in London at Stroud Green, whence he joined the army as a chaplain in the Great War. He was again transferred to the Bodmin community in 1926. He died of a stroke in 1936.

Bernard Cotter

Bernard Cotter was born about 1875 in Ireland. He arrived at Spetisbury in 1889 and was there until 1907 when it closed down. In 1911 he was a priest at Swanage.

Joseph O’Reilly

Joseph O’Reilly was born in 1887 in Birkenhead, Cheshire as Thomas Joseph O'Reilly. He came to Spetisbury from Shap Cell in 1898. He completed his novitiate and was still at Spetisbury in 1904.

Matthew Gallagher

Matthew Gallagher was born about 1885 in Scotland. In 1901 he was a student at Spetisbury and was still there in 1904. By 1911 he was a priest at Bodmin.

Basil Landreth Basil Landreth was born 16th Oct 1875 in Southport, Lancs to a non-catholic family who all converted. He entered Marnhull in 1890 and in 1903 took simple vows. In 1904 he completed his novitiate and went from Bodmin to Spetisbury. That same year he had a heart problem and at the end of July caught typhoid fever. He died on 30th Sep 1904 aged 28 and was buried in the cemetery at Spetisbury

Raymund Gallagher

Raymund Gallagher completed his novitiate at Bodmin in 1903 and then entered Spetisbury as a student.

R.A.Vaughan

R.A.Vaughan was a convert Anglican Minister who in 1903 was accepted as novice.

He completed his novitiate and went from Bodmin to Spetisbury to do Philosophy.

Archangelus Vende

Archangelus Vende, born Joseph Jean-Marie Vende in about 1861, was professed in Beauchene, France in 1882. He came to Spetisbury in 1895 to learn English before going to Australia, though as it turned out he never went. In 1899 he was still at Spetisbury as Santini had “given up trying to get him to return to his own province & assigned him to the English province though he eschewed community life.” In 1902 he was acting as chaplain to the Sisters of Charity in Lower Bullingham, Hereford and was still there in 1911. He stayed in England until his death in 1924.

Marmaduke St. Juste Sellon

Marmaduke St. Juste Sellon was born in 1855 in Brighton, Sussex. In 1891 he was working in Ambleside but in 1899 entered Spetisbury as an oblate. In 1901 he was at Bodmin and in 1902 supplying in St. Bede’s, South Shields. In 1903 he was a Westminster Cathedral Chaplain. He founded and built a church in North Finchley and was active until his death on 24th Mar 1925.

“Those who did not persevere”

William Palmer

William Fowler of Falmouth arrived at Marnhull in 1886 newly professed and was a student at Spetisbury after that. He was ordained in 1888 but then returned to the Novitiate at Bodmin to establish his religious vocation.

Carthagh Duffy

Carthagh Duffy was an ex-Cistercian who showed interest in joining the Canons. He was at Spetisbury in 1899 but left after completion of his simple profession.

John Cleary

John Cleary, a former Marnhull boy, arrived at Spetisbury in 1887 and stayed until 1890 when Menchini suggested he leave.

Alipius Hughes

Alipius Hughes, a former Marnhull boy, arrived at Spetisbury in 1887. He returned to Bodmin in 1889 for a while to establish his religious vocation but in1890 Menchini suggested he leave.

Maurice Suckling

Maurice Suckling, born about 1871 in London, arrived at Marnhull in 1886. He came to Spetisbury in 1887 and stayed until 1890 when Menchini suggested he leave.

Richard O’Regan

Richard O’Regan, a former Marnhull boy, went to Bodmin in 1887 and to Spetisbury in 1888. In 1890 his simple vows were dispensed on account of his ill health which rendered him unsuitable for religious life.

John O’Connell

John O’Connell, a former Marnhull boy, went to Bodmin in 1887 and to Spetisbury in 1888. In 1890 he was banished home for several months for serious infringements of discipline. He later received dispensation from his simple vows and had gone by the end of 1891.

Stephen Lyons

Stephen Lyons, born about 1870 in London, a former Marnhull boy, went to Bodmin in 1887 and to Spetisbury in 1888. In 1890 he was banished home for several months for serious infringements of discipline. He later received dispensation from his simple vows and had gone by the end of 1891.

Edgar Sheldon

Edgar Sheldon, a former Marnhull boy, arrived at Spetisbury in 1887 and stayed until 1890 when Menchini suggested he leave.

Raymond Carroll

Raymond Carroll, born in 1873 in Newport, Isle of Wight as William Carroll, was a former Marnhull boy who went to Bodmin in 1887 and to Spetisbury in 1888. He remained until 1891 when he received dispensation from his simple vows.

Hugh Walter McElroy

Hugh McElroy, (elder brother of Richard McElroy) was born 28th October 1874 in Liverpool, attended Marnhull Juniorate and in 1890 went to Bodmin for his novitiate. In 1891 he arrived at Spetisbury but was dismissed by order of the Abbot Generaland left in 1892. He then joined the Merchant Navy, and was serving as Chief Purser on the Titanic when it went down in 1912. Hugh sent two postcards from the Royal Southampton Yacht Club before the Titanic left. One to Phillip Corr dated 6th April 1912 read as follows: “Many thanks for your letter and good wishes which I reciprocate, the Titanic is in many ways an improved Olympic and will I trust be a success, I am sorry I could not get down to Swanage this time but I was tied to Southampton and the train service too erratic to take chances, all kind of messages to you both.” The other card was to Cuthbert McAdam at Bodmin Priory; this was also dated 6th April 1912 with a message in a similar vein. Hearing of the disaster , his brother Richard travelled up to Southampton; he was accompanied by fellow priest Aloysius Smith who was also at St. Mary's Priory, Bodmin, and whose brother, Reginald George Smith, was coincidentally a saloon steward on the Titanic and who also perished.

Felix Menchini

Thomas Belton

Thomas Belton, born about 1863 in Islington, as Francis Belton, attended Stonyhurst College. He was appointed the first Prior of Spetisbury at the age of 24 years (1887 –1890). He also taught Humanities, Chant and Liturgy, Arithmetic and Natural Sciences. He had frail health and in 1890 was sent to Bodmin as Novice Master and thence to Rome. In 1891 he went to Australia for three years and in 1899 was at Stroud Green with a roaming commission.

Anthony Allaria

Anthony Allaria, born about 1853 in Italy, was the second Prior of Spetisbury (1890-1902) In 1887 he was Master of the Professed and Procurator of Spetisbury. He taught Philosophy, Dogma, Theology, Canon Law, Greek and Latin. For some time he was left single-handed to teach all the subjects but continued to provide an ambitious scholastic programme and a supporting timetable of spiritual exercises. In 1896 he also became Visitor of the English Province.

Cuthbert McAdam

Cuthbert McAdam, born Henry Martyn Eccles McAdam on 17th September 1857 in Hereford, was the third Prior of Spetisbury (1902-1907). In 1891 he arrived at Spetisbury from Bodmin in simple vows and was made infirmarian. In 1894 he returned to Bodmin as Procurator and in 1897 was the Catholic Chaplain to Her Majesty’s Prison. He returned to Spetisbury in 1898 as Master of the Professed. In 1907 he took the community to Swanage where he died in 1916.

Augustine White

Augustine White, born in 1858 in Hammersmith as Henry St. George White, studied at Prior Park College, near Bath and was ordained in 1884. He arrived from Bodmin in 1884 to become Prior of Marnhull. When Marnhull was closed he returned to Cornwall as Prior of Bodmin (1891-1894). He then went to London to look after the Mission at Stroud Green. He died in 1932; a memorial at Christchurch Priory says “this plaque is also in memory of the Rev. Augustine White, Titular Abbot of Holy Cross Abbey, Waltham and leader of the Canons Regular of the Lateran.”

Gilbert Higgins

Gilbert Higgins was born on 7th July 1849 at Aghada, County Cork, Ireland as John Joseph Higgins. He was raised in Penzance where his father was a coastguard. He was educated at Penzance, then at Yvetot (1866-1869) and then at the English seminary at Bruges (1869-1873). He served at Plymouth Cathedral (1873-1874), Poole (1874-1879), Barnstaple (1879) and St. Augustine’s Priory, Newton Abbot (1879-1881). After meeting Dom Felix Menchini in 1881, he entered The Canons Regular of the Lateran and transferred to Bodmin. In 1884 he was Master of Novices and Master of the Professed at Bodmin but then went to work at Marnhull where he was Master of Alumni. While at Marnhull he also taught Scripture and Greek at Spetisbury. In 1891 he became Master of Professed and Lecturer at Spetisbury; he was also parish priest of Spetisbury with Honiton. He was a preacher of great repute and always in demand. In 1894 he moved to Stroud Green where he was Prior between1899 and 1905. He died on 18th November 1940 aged 91 years.

Leo Holden

Leo Holden was born about 1870 in Clitheroe, Lancs. In 1887 he arrived at Spetisbury from Bodmin in simple vows. While at Spetisbury he acted as a prefect at Marnhull from time to time. He made his solemn profession in 1890 and a year later went to the International College at Rome for three years returning in 1894. Two years later he transferred to Bodmin and in 1897 went to Shap Cell in Ambleside. In March that year he was ordained at Spetisbury and then returned to Ambleside. At the end of 1898 he went to Bodmin again and was sent to Rome in 1900. By 1908 he was working at Stroud Green.

Leo Holden

Joseph O’Connor

Joseph O’Connor was born about 1870 in Dublin, Ireland. In 1887 he arrived at Spetisbury from Bodmin in simple vows. He was ordained in 1891 and in 1893 made master of Novices at Spetisbury. He also shared the Ministry of Honiton with Cleary. In 1894 he went to Bodmin as Master of Novices and in 1896 was made Prior of Bodmin. He returned to Spetisbury in 1900 and was still there in 1907. In 1911 he was a priest at the Priory in Swanage.

Norbert Jones

Norbert Jones was born about 1866 in Southwark, London. In 1887 he arrived at Spetisbury from Bodmin in simple vows but returned to Bodmin in 1890. In 1894 he came back to Spetisbury where he was appointed secretary and infirmarion. In 1896 he went to Devon where he was resident chaplain to the nuns at Sidmouth for about fifteen years. By 1911 he was a priest at the Presbytery at Goole in Yorkshire.

Charles Hannigan

Charles Hannigan was born about 1870 in Portland, Dorset. In 1887 he arrived at Spetisbury from Bodmin in simple vows. While at Spetisbury he acted as a prefect at Marnhull from time to time. He made his solemn profession in 1890 and in 1891 went to the International College in Rome for three years, returning to Spetisbury in 1894 as Master of the Professed. In 1896 he was sent to Ambleside and in 1898 to Bodmin. By 1900 he was back in Spetisbury and in 1908 was at Stroud Green.

Charles Hannigan

Patrick Cleary

Patrick Cleary was born about 1870 in Waterford, Ireland: his parents were immigrants from the famine in Ireland and he went to Cornwall as a young boy. In 1887 he arrived at Spetisbury from Bodmin in simple vows. While at Spetisbury he acted as a prefect at Marnhull from time to time. He was ordained in 1891 and was sent to Bodmin as Master of Alumni and Procurator. In 1893 he returned to Spetisbury as Socius to the Master of the Professed and shared the Ministry of Deer Park, Honiton with O’Connor.

Isodore O’Leary

Isodore O’Leary was born about 1871 in Exeter, Devon as Charles O’Leary. In 1887 he arrived at Spetisbury from Bodmin in simple vows. In 1890 he made his solemn profession and was then sent to Rome for higher studies. After being awarded his doctorate in 1896 he returned to Spetisbury as Master of the Professed and lecturer in Dogma and Canon law. In 1899 he was teaching Philosophy and Theology and was priest for Spetisbury. In 1902 he was transferred to Stroud Green and was still there in 1911.

Ildephonus Layard

Ildephonus Layard was born about 1859 in Scotland as James Layard. In 1888 he was a student at Spetisbury and was ordained after a very short course and sent to Bodmin as Master of Novices. In 1890 he became Master of the Professed at Spetisbury but in 1891 returned to Bodmin. Soon afterwards he came back to Spetisbury as Master of Novices and Procurator and then in 1895 went to Stroud Green.

Gaudentius Holden

Gaudentius Holden (brother of Leo Holden) was born about 1873 in Longbridge, Lancs as George Holden. In 1884 aged 12 he left Bodmin for Marnhull and in 1887 returned to Bodmin for his novitiate. By 1891 he was at Spetisbury in simple vows and made his solemn profession in 1893. In 1896 he was sent to Shap Cell to help in the school for boys there. He returned to Bodmin in 1899. In 1901 he was a priest living at Kenwyn in Cornwall and by 1911 he was at Stroud Green.

Pursar Hugh McElroy with Capt Edward John Smith

An article in the West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser on 20th April 1912 read:

At Mass at St. Piran’s Roman Catholic Church, Truro on Sunday morning, prayers were offered for those who went down in the Titanic, and special mention was made of Mr. Hugh McElroy, the chief purser, brother of the present Prior of Bodmin, and Mr. Reginald Smith, one of the Titanic’s engineers, brother of Father Smith, Father Visitor at Bodmin, both of whom were drowned.

Sebastian Rota

Sebastian Rota was born about 1873 in Newington, Surrey as Charles Henrico Rota. He attended Marnhull Juniorate and in 1890 left for his novitiate at Bodmin. In 1891 he arrived at Spetisbury and made his profession in 1893. In 1896 he left Spetisbury for the Professorium at Gubbio as there were doubts about him and in1897 he was dismissed from Gubbio.

Lewis Landreth

Lewis Landreth was born about 1880 in Southport. Lancs. In 1890 he was a pupil at Marnhull and in 1895 he went to Bodmin as a novice. He passed to enter the novitiate but did not persevere.

Ambrose Mellish

Ambrose Mellish was born about 1867 in Reigate, Surrey. In 1901 he was a student at Spetisbury and in 1902 an oblate. He eventually suffered a violent form of religious mania and became a patient in St. Lawrence’s, Bodmin. He donated £3000 in student bursaries

Lay Brothers

Bro. John Baptista Pastorelli

John Baptista Pastorelli was born about 1859 in Italy. He arrived at Marnhull from Bodmin in 1884 and in 1890 was at Spetisbury. He went back to Bodmin and then returned to Spetisbury again in 1893. In 1895 he suffered a very bad bout of flu which left him mentally impaired. After passing through various stages of ill-health & recuperation he was sent back to Italy after spending 20 years in the service of the English Province. He died in April 1934.

Bro. Robert McGrath

Robert McGrath was born about 1852 in Preston, Lancs. He was present at Spetisbury in 1890 and 1891.

Bro Joseph Corr

Joseph Corr, born in 1867 in Chardstock, Devon(the elder brother of Philip Corr), arrived at Spetisbury from Bodmin in 1890. He returned to Bodmin 1891-92, then came back to Spetisbury in 1893. In 1901 he was at St. Mary's Priory in Bodmin where he remained at least until 1911. He died in Cornwall in 1935.

Bro. Austin Clayton

Austin Clayton was born about 1867 in London as Roland Clayton. In 1891 he was at Marnhull then came to Spetisbury in 1893. In 1897 he was offered “retirement” or lay-oblateship. In 1902 after nine years as a lay brother in simple vows he left as unsuited for religious life.

Aloysius Smith

Aloysius Smith was born about 1874 in Weymouth, Dorset as Walter James Smith. He was a pupil at Marnhull in 1884 and in 1887 went to Bodmin for his novitiate. He arrived at Spetisbury in 1890 and made his solemn profession in 1893. In 1894 he went to Rome for higher studies until 1900 when he returned to Bodmin where he was made Superior. In 1902 he was made Prior of Bodmin and in 1905 Visitor of the English Province. In 1946 he was elected Abbot General, the first Englishman in the 500 year history of the order. In 1952 he was enthroned as Abbot of Bodmin. He died on 20th Aug 1960 at Hayle and was buried at Bodmin.

Aloysius Smith

Wilfred Regan

Wilfred Regan was born about 1875 in Devonport, Devon as William Regan. In 1890 he was in the alumnate at Marnhull and he came to Spetisbury in 1891 making his profession two years later. In 1896 he was sent to Shap Cell to help in the school for boys but was back in Spetisbury in 1898. In 1899 he was made Master of the Professed and in 1901 was sent to Bodmin. By 1911 he was Chaplain to the Convent of the Assumption in Sidmouth, Devon.

Philip Corr

Philip Corr was born in 1874 in Chardstock, Devon as John Henry Corr. He attended Marnhull Juniorate but left in 1890 for the Novitiate at Bodmin. In 1891 he went to Spetisbury where he made his solemn profession in 1893. In 1902 he was transferred to Bodmin and became the first resident priest at the new parish of St. Ives. In 1908 he was at Stroud Green. He eventually served as a Roman Catholic parish Priest in Swanage for 25 years.

Edward Bovenizer

Edward Bovenizer was born in 1875 in Plymouth, Devon as Peter Joseph Bovenizer. He attended Marnhull Juniorate but left in 1891 for the Novitiate at Bodmin. He went to Spetisbury in 1893, made his solemn profession in 1898 and was ordained in 1889. He remained at Spetisbury for some years. In 1908 he was at Stroud Green. and in 1911 a priest at Guildford.

Thomas Mullins

Thomas Mullins was born about 1876 in Donhead, Wilts. He was a pupil at Marnhull in 1890 and a novice at Spetisbury in 1893. He made his solemn profession in 1898 and was ordained in 1899. While at Spetisbury, he was the first priest to serve Swanage, In 1902 he was appointed as chaplain to Miss Ellis at Hayle in Cornwall.

Vincent Scully

Vincent Scully was born in 1876 in Lambeth, Surrey as Joseph Scully, of Irish parentage. In 1890 he was a pupil at Marnhull and in 1891 went to Bodmin for his novitiate. In 1893 he was a novice at Spetisbury, he made his solemn profession in 1898 and was ordained in 1899. In 1901 he was appointed Master of the Professed. In 1911 he was a priest at St. Ives in Cornwall. In WWI he had a temporary commission in the army and served as an army chaplain. He was wounded, mentioned in despatches twice and awarded the Médaille du Roi Albert. He wrote a Life of the Venerable Thomas a Kempis and a Life of St. Lyduine. In 1931 he was back at Bodmin as Novice Master. He died 12^th November 1941.

Michael Reddin

Michael Redden was born about 1872 in Ireland. He was at Spetisbury in 1894 but then went to Bodmin for two years returning in 1899. In 1901 he was sent to Bodmin again and in 1902 said the first mass at St. Ives.

Bruno Peters

Bruno Peters was born about 1872 in Germany as Henry Peters. He was in Bodmin in 1894 as a novice and arrived in Spetisbury in 1896 where he remained until sent to Bodmin in 1901 as Master of Novices. He was still at Bodmin in 1911.

Francis Jeffrey

Francis Jeffrey was born in 1877 in Salisbury, Wilts as John Jeffrey. He was a student at Spetisbury from about 1892 both as a novice and in vows. He remained at Spetisbury at least until 1903. In 1911 he was a priest at Eagle House, Eltham.

George A McGregor

George McGregor was born about 1874 in New Brunswick, Canada. He was a pupil at Marnhull in 1884 and arrived at Spetisbury for his novitiate in 1891. He made his solemn profession in 1893 and was ordained in 1896 after which he left for higher studies in Rome. In 1900 he returned to Spetisbury “with his doctor’s ring and biretta” and was still in Spetisbury in 1903. In 1911 he was a priest at the mission in Eltham and between 1920 and 1929 he was Prior of Bodmin, after which he became parochial vicar of St. Ives until 1937 when he retired through illness. During the second world war he was chaplain to the Sacred Heart Nuns of Roehampton. Lastly he taught theology at the Canons Regular House of Studies at Hoddersdon. He died on 24th February 1949.

Lay brothers at Spetisbury (left to right)

Bro. Austin Clayton, Bro. Joseph Corr, ?,?

Bro. Arthur Pearce

Arthur Pearce was born in 1879 in Sherborne, Dorset. He entered Spetisbury in 1894 and remained there until at least 1901.

Bro. Owen Kelly

Owen Kelly was born in 1886 in Liverpool, Lancs. He came to Spetisbury in 1899 as a lay postulant and in1907 went to Swanage as a lay oblate. He eventually suffered a form of mania and was transferred to the Asylum in Dorchester in 1910. He died there the following year aged 25.

Bro. Charles Kennedy

Charles Kennedy was a lay postulant at Spetisbury in 1893 but had to return home for family reasons in 1895.

Bro. Thomas McVeigh

Thomas McVeigh arrived at Spetisbury from Manchester in 1895 and in 1896 was a lay postulant at Spetisbury.

Bro. Gildas Farr

Gildas Farr, born William Farr, arrived at Spetisbury from Bodmin as a lay brother in 1902. In 1904 he was due to make first profession but expressed doubts because of his health; he was very useful in running the printing press so he stayed on as a lay brother oblate.

Bro. Anthony FitzGerald

Anthony FitzGerald, born in 1869 in County Cork, Ireland as Mortimer FitzGerald, was a lay brother postulant at Spetisbury in 1903. He remained at Spetisbury until 1907 when he went to Swanage. In 1908 he went to Bodmin and in 1921 took solemn vows.

Bro. Norbert Gimbrere

Norbert Gimbrere, born William Gimbrere, was a Dutchman with the Fathers of the S.S Hearts who wished to transfer to the Canons and in 1904 was accepted as a lay brother postulant. In 1905 he was named Bro. Norbert.

Bro. Auguste Volchrych

Auguste Volchrych was the lay postulant who in 1902 made off with the cash box.

Bro. Thomas Wiscombe

Thomas Wiscombe arrived at Spetisbury as lay brother postulant in 1902. He went to Bodmin for his novitiate but in1903 was rejected as unsuitable for religious life.

Home Next