The King visits the Birmingham Oratory

On September 3rd His Majesty The King visited the Birmingham Oratory with its treasures from the life of its founder St John Henry Newman. 

The visit can be seen in two videos on the Royal Family Channel, to which my attention was drawn by a friend. The shorter version can be seen at King Explores Cardinal Newman’s Untouched Room at the Oratory of St. Philip Neri and the longer one, which includes the same footage at King Charles Tours The Historic Oratory of St. Philip Neri

In them The King can be seen visiting the main Oratory church, the Newman shrine chapel, the Cardinal’s library and the room he occupied, which has been preserved altered since his death in August 1890.

In the video His Majesry can be heard to say he had been trying for five years to visit the Oratory but his schedule had not permitted it. I wonder if St John Henry’s elevation to being a Doctor of the Church quickened the pace.

Having had the very real privilege of visiting the Birmingham Oratory on several occasions myself I can appreciate the monarch’s clear fascination with what he was shown. If any reader ever has the opportunity to visit Newman’s rooms it is one to be taken up. The The present.Oratory church from 1911 is one of the most beautiful settings for Catholic liturgy and it is very well worth attending Mass there.