Reference code: GB-0298-UC/P24
Title: Bishop Thomas Walsh Correspondence
Dates of creation: 1836-1848
Extent: 1 file
Held by: Ushaw
Origination: Thomas Walsh (1776-1849)
Language: English
Thomas Walsh was born in London in 1776. Following the death of his Irish Catholic father, he was initially sent by his Protestant mother to be educated at the grammar school at St Albans. However, his uncle, a priest of the London District,
managed to obtain his admission to the college of St Omers. Along with his fellow students, he was imprisoned at Dourlens in the aftermath of the French Revolution and then continued his studies at Old Hall Green, where he was confirmed on 19
December 1795. In 1801, Walsh became a secretary to the vicar apostolic of the Midland District, Dr Stapleton. Three years later, he became chaplain to Bishop Milner and a missioner at Longbirch and, the following year, was sent to Sedgley Park
School as spiritual father. In 1808 he went to Oscott as vice-president and spiritual father, and later became president there (1818-1826). In April 1826, he succeeded Bishop Milner as vicar apostolic. During his episcopal rule, Walsh commissioned
the building of the College of St Mary, Oscott, the two cathedrals of Birmingham and Nottingham, and numerous other churches and religious foundations. In 1848, and much to his disapproval, he was transferred to the London District, although he did
not take an active role in this capacity owing to his declining health. He died in London in 1849 and was buried in St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham.
Correspondence of Bishop Thomas Walsh, mostly letters to John Talbot, the 16th earl of Shrewsbury, written during Walsh's time as vicar apostolic of the Midland/Central District, relating to the development and administration of the Catholic
community there during the 1830s and 1840s. Topics include: the building of the new Oscott College, St Chad's Cathedral in Bimingham, St Barnabas's Cathedral in Nottingham, and St Mary's Cathedral in Derby, the establishment of male and female
religious orders in the area, the response of Protestants to these developments, Catholic converts, district finances, the management of the clergy, his opinions of Nicholas Wiseman, and the response of the clergy to the Education Bill.
Walsh's letters to the Earl of Shrewsbury were brought together by Rev Michael Sharratt as part of the Old Series of documents in Ushaw College Library. The other letters at the end of the sequence have been added at a later date.
Previous reference number OS 2 Ca
Previous reference number W.S.
Open for consultation.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from ushaw.library@durham.ac.uk and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright
owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material
The letters and other papers follow the original arrangement of the collection which is broadly chronological.
Card catalogue with item list
Birmingham Archdiocesan Archives
c1828-49: correspondence and papers
NRA 8129 Birmingham
Oscott College
1819-39: papers relating to Oscott College
UC/P24/1 27 October 1836
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his intention to rebuild Oscott College, the sinking of funds into the college by Walsh's friends, asking Shrewsbury for £50 half-yearly, recommending the Catholic mission at Derby, the new church at Banbury,
asking whether Shrewsbury would continue to provide for a grant of timber from the Heythrop woods.
UC/P24/2
Number not used
UC/P24/3 12 November 1836
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his plans to confirm in Lincolnshire, going to Rome after Easter.
UC/P24/4 24 August 1837
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Fr Agnew's unsuitability for Ashbourne, the Cornwall missioner, Mr Young, and his vocation with the Institute of Charity, and his suitablity for Ashbourne if Dr Mulholland can be presuaded to retire.
UC/P24/5 18 April 1838
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his reasons for not condemning the oath proposed with the Roman Catholic Relief Bill [?1829] but agreeing that if Rome condemned it, he would do likewise.
UC/P24/6 26 December 1838
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the general collection for Bishop Baines and Walsh's recommendation of a collection for the Midland District only, a request by Rome for a collection in England relating to the colonial foreign missions which
resembles that at Lyons, an account of various payments to be made by the Church as a result of a legacy, envisaging the creation of an Eastern District centred around Mr Spencer, Dr Wiseman and the new Oscott College, with Dr Wiseman as his
coadjutor, and asking Shrewsbury to use his influence with Rome to assist with the plan.
UC/P24/7 30 January 1839
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury including a copy of a letter from Walsh to Charles Weld: his resignation of the presidency of the Propagation of the Faith in England, (to Shrewsbury) his action relating to addressing Pope and Propaganda, begging
Shrewsbury to obtain Wiseman for his coadjutor, plans to build a noble Catholic church in Birmingham.
UC/P24/8 25 February 1839
Printed pastoral letter from Bishop Walsh to the Catholic Clergy and Laity of the Midland District, with a Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury (on the same sheet): his acceptance of Shrewsbury's loan of £2,000, he is expecting to receive over
£100,000 from a compromise signed by Tempest and Stoner, the commencement of the building of a church in Birmingham with A.W. Pugin as architect, his requirement of a further £12,000, as well as Wiseman's appointment being urged in Rome.
UC/P24/9 6 March 1839
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the latter's appointment as president of the Propagation of the Faith, his anger at Rev MacDowell's appearance at political [?Chartist] meetings in Birmingham Town Hall, his meeting with Pugin and his appreciation
of Catholic architecture, the cost of building a church in Derby, the confirmation of Frances Mary Talbot, Shrewsbury's daughter.
UC/P24/10 27 September 1839
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: a possible lease for the Alton Castle grounds, his plans to meet Shrewsbury at the opening of the new church in Derby and discuss Wiseman, the local Protestants want Wiseman to speak at Derby and want to open a
new church in Dudley, the need to use Wiseman's reputation to persuade Pope and Propaganda.
UC/P24/11 15 November 1839
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: thanking him for his offer of £2,000 to establish the Sisters of Charity in Birmingham, the laying of the foundation stone at St Chad's, Wiseman's lectures in Derby church and the attendance of many Protestants,
the regrets of Mr Sing for any offence caused to Shrewsbury at the Derby church opening, the committee for the building of a church at St George's Southwick and their conversation with Mr Sing concerning Pugin's appointment as architect, requesting
the retirement of Rev MacDowell, Wiseman's success and plans, Propaganda's censure of Walsh for allowing a Catholic convert architect (Pugin) to introduce Gothic vestments, attempts to prevent Protestants from attending the new Catholic church in
Derby including anti-Catholic sermons in Protestant churches and the formation of ladies' committees to persuade people not to attend the church.
UC/P24/12 24 December 1839
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Walsh's serious financial difficulties and blaming his own extravagance in the building of St Chad's and the church at Dudley, calling on Shrewsbury for £1,000
per annum and to leave
£20,000 in his will to save Oscott, St Chad's and Derby church.
UC/P24/13 20 January 1840
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: agreeing to exercise financial restraint at Dudley and Birmingham, informing him of a new plan for Rome dividing districts by separating Staffordshire from Warwickshire, with Oscott and Birmingham separated from
the East, the fund for St Chad's is suffering because of trade depression, conversions to Catholicism in Derby.
UC/P24/14 11 February 1840
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his petition to the Pope and Propaganda outlining his reasons for Wiseman's appointment as coadjutor and calling on Shrewsbury to support the petition.
UC/P24/15 26 May 1840
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: confirmation of Wiseman's appointment as coadjutor, Weedall's and Wareing's respective appointments to the Northern and Eastern Vicariates, its effect on Oscott College, Shrewsbury's vestments are now at
Marseilles, his belief that Weedall is a serious loss.
UC/P24/16 26 August 1840
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his plans to visit Alton Towers and meet with Pugin, the possibility of Weedall evading his appointment to the Northern Vicariate, the increase in Catholics in the industrial districts in the Midlands, his hopes
that the bishop's house at Wolverhampton could become a convent, with a church to be built elsewhere in the town, the Blundell case.
UC/P24/17 24 September 1840
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the transfer of £1,000 from his solicitor to Shrewsbury.
UC/P24/18 22 October 1840
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: securing land at Nottingham for £1,500 to build a new church, Shrewsbury's contribution of £1,500 to clear a debt on a existing chapel, the appointment of Dr Mostyn as Northern vicar apostolic, welcomed by his
clergy, his hopes that Wiseman will be allowed to remain quietly in the Midland District.
UC/P24/19 20 August 1842
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury's reputation as a good employer, the fears of the Caverwall convent nuns during [the Pottery Riots] which were allayed by reassurances from local people that they have no reason to fear attack, the
formation of several companies by residents, the use of the convent to provide strikers with food relief and their gratitude, plans by one nun to fortify the castle against attacks, hopes that Shrewsbury will remain safe in Alton Towers.
UC/P24/20 25 August 1842
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the plans of Rev Sibthorpe, Walsh's travels through the lately riotous district of Cobridge.
UC/P24/21 6 October 1842
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: a cordial meeting with Bishop Baines, the inability of Wiseman to prevent Willson's appointment as vicar of Van Diemen's Land, suggesting Sibthorpe as his successor at Nottingham, Wiseman's visit to the Estética
of Areza.
UC/P24/22 10 October 1842
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Sibthorpe's poor health, the reception of the Marley sisters at Birmingham, Walsh's hopes that Mr Willson can remain at Nottingham.
UC/P24/23 14 October 1842
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his request to Wiseman to assist in extricating the district from its present difficulties, his belief that Wiseman wishes to concentrate on his work at Oscott College, reduction in students at Oscott and
Wiseman's indulgence in allowing them expensive clothes, rumours of favouritism at Oscott, Walsh's appreciation for the previous president, Dr Logan, praise by Protestants for Dr Willson who will be a sad loss to Nottingham.
UC/P24/24 20 October 1843
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: suggesting that Rev F. Turvile should succeed Morgan, the source of a salary for Rev Foley, priest at Uttoxeter, Sisters of Mercy being received at St Chad's, Miss Young and Mr Enson recent Catholic converts,
Bishop Willson's consecration.
UC/P24/25 30 December 1842
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Alton Towers should be a model for Protestants, including Holy Days to be observed with more solemnity and a benediction to be given there, urging Shrewsbury to discuss these plans with Wiseman.
UC/P24/26 22 November 1843
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: money received by Shrewsbury towards St Barnabas, the work still to be carried out.
UC/P24/27 21 December 1843
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: over 100 converts at Derby and the increasing congregation at Nottingham, the fears of the Anglican and Dissenter ministers over the arrival of the Sisters of Charity and the plans to establish a Protestant school
in opposition, the progress of St Barnabas.
UC/P24/28 20 March 1844
Copy letter from Walsh to Mr Connelly: reprimanding him for his criticism of Oscott College, including its poor discipline and the lack of respect of students towards the clergy, Walsh's belief that there is no better preparatory school in
England, Connelly's desire to remove his son to Stonyhurst.
UC/P24/29 22 March 1844
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury enclosing a letter to Connolly: his defence of Oscott College, Mr Phillipp's complaints and Walsh's proposed letter to Mr Phillipps outlining that he had no intention of injuring the Loughborough community by
asking Dr Pagani for assistance at Birmingham, although requesting Dr Pagani not to send any Rosminians to Birmingham, the progress of the Nottingham Sisters of Charity.
UC/P24/30 22 March 1844
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the latter's proposed tour of the new churches in the Central District, a collection for a chapel of Blessed Sacrament in St Barnabas, news that Pierce Connelly and his wife are to become priest and nun.
UC/P24/31 10 June 1844
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Bishop Griffiths's unsatisfactory reply to a case involving Lord A. and Miss Y..
UC/P24/32 12 July 1844
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Bishop Willson's appointment leading to the working class Catholic population of Nottingham being burdened with financial problems, his own poor finances, the introduction of the Sisters of Mercy and priests to
join the staff at St Barnabas, the contributions of Protestants towards St Barnabas.
Continued in UC/P24/74
UC/P24/33 [August] 1844
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury, enclosing a letter concerning Wiseman's safe arrival at the Lisbon College.
UC/P24/34 18 August 1844
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: requesting the earl's financial assistance for St Barnabas.
UC/P24/35 18 November 1844
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his health and his plans to visit Oscott.
UC/P24/36 25 November 1844
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the need for Wiseman to seek relaxation to avoid a breakdown, Shrewsbury's £1,000 towards St Barnabas, converts in the convent.
UC/P24/37 17 September 1846
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his reluctance not to transfer Rev Griffin to Cheadle from Nottingham, the city's pecuniary needs and support for the mission there, the attraction of Protestants to Griffin's services, the possibility of new
priests from Lisbon College.
UC/P24/38 22 December 1846
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Wiseman taking on extra responsibility over the district's finances following Walsh's illness, news of ordinations and converts, the Sisters of Mercy distributing alms.
UC/P24/39 15 January 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Wiseman and the setting up of the Central Mission Fund, criticism of the Catholic Institute following the publication of its accounts, accusations against Dr Pagani of spending too much money, the contribution of
St Chad's and Oscott to Catholic conversions, the need for financial prudence, conversions at Leeds, the immoral state of the convicts in Van Diemen's Land.
UC/P24/40 5 March 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his interest in Faber's establishment but feels Wiseman should manage the community, his discussion of the Cheadle matter with Brothers Wilfred and Anthony, his difficulties in communicating with Wiseman.
UC/P24/41 12 March 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: agreeing with Wiseman's request for the church of St Giles, Cheadle being served by St Wilfred's, the sufficient size of the presbytery for this purpose, Faber's wish to build an orphanage, Walsh's belief that
Faber should wait until St Wilfred's has approval from the Holy See, the plan to convert Oscott College into a purely ecclesiastical seminary with the separation of lay students, Walsh's view that this cannot be achieved.
UC/P24/42 12 April 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Dr Pagani, Walsh') plans to travel to London for the meeting of bishops, the receiving of Mrs Seigh into the Catholic Church.
UC/P24/43 14 April 1847
Walsh to Hon Charles Langdale: the bishops' answer to Mr Kay Shuttleworth to the effect that the education grant should not exclude Protestant children from attending Catholic schools, calling on the government to assist in the establishment of
Roman Catholic schools, as well as the inspection of Catholic schools by Catholic inspectors.
UC/P24/44 26 May 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Rev Gubbin's reported liking for hunting.
UC/P24/45 4 July 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Brother Anthony's ordination, the charges made against Dr Mulholland, Wiseman's plans to go to Rome.
UC/P24/46 6 July 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the decision to send a deputation from each district to London on the education question, his choice for the Central District deputation, Wiseman's illness forcing the organisation of the campaign on him
(Walsh).
UC/P24/47 28 July 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: arrangements to meet, the marriage of the Conservative candidate for Walsall to a Catholic.
UC/P24/48 30 July 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the latter's support for Mr Lyttleton and the possibility that he may have lost his seat owing to his views on the Maynooth Grant, Fr Ingnatius Spencer's health.
UC/P24/49 16 August 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the calls by the congregation for the return of Rev Fairfax at Cheadle, urging Shrewsbury to be kind to his replacement, Rev Gubbins.
UC/P24/50 23 August 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Dr Mulholland's support for Shrewsbury.
UC/P24/51 9 September 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the Asbourne mission, the opening of a new church at Rugby.
UC/P24/52 26 September 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Walsh's difficulties in communicating with Wiseman, as well as the Ashbourne case.
UC/P24/53 30 September [?1845]
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the promise of money by Henry Trent if a lawsuit turned out favourably, the times of Mass at St Barnabas, opposition from the Anglicans and Dissenting ministers towards Catholicism in the district, the success of
the Sisters of Mercy.
UC/P24/54 6 October 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: an interview between Dr Mulholland and two bishops at Oscott, Dr Logan's appointment as president, his plans to separate church and lay students.
UC/P24/55 17 October 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: money owed to Dr Mulholland, and Wiseman's sudden departure from the District preventing Walsh from issuing a pastoral for the Mission Fund Collection.
UC/P24/56 5 November 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Mulholland's letter.
UC/P24/57 3 December 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: payment for Mulholland relating to the Mission Fund Collection, asking for Shrewsbury to relieve him from the Mulholland affair.
UC/P24/58 22 January 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: disgusted at the
Tablet's attack on Shrewsbury, Dr Logan's decision to ban the newspaper from Oscott, his dismay at the congratulatory address to Rev Dowell from the Nottingham lay Catholics.
UC/P24/59 24 March 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: seeking the sum contributed by Alton Towers for the last collection, his decision to leave Mulholland's case to Mr Sing and his lawyers, the success of Shrewsbury's letter to Archbishop McHale in Ireland.
UC/P24/60 7 April 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the lack of authorisation for Rev Gubbins to request nuns from Ireland for the Cheadle mission.
UC/P24/61 27 April 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: granting the latter's request for missionary faculties for Rev Walter [?Lovi].
UC/P24/62 10 May 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the death of Sir Edward [?Vavasour] and the payment of his grants to Catholic missions, the need for another coadjutor to replace Wiseman.
UC/P24/63 12 May 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Bishop Haly.
UC/P24/64 May 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the poor financial state of the Central District.
UC/P24/65 4 August 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the financial requirements of the district.
UC/P24/66 5 August 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the offer for him to become the first archbishop of Westminster, the administration of the proposed new Catholic hierarchy.
UC/P24/67
Number not used
UC/P24/68 19 August 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Bishop Ullathorne's appointment to the Central District, the need to resolve the financial difficulties of the district, his belief that there will be problems in the short term.
UC/P24/69 24 August 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his salary, Bishop Ullathorne's imminent arrival, Walsh's departure for the London District.
UC/P24/70 [?1848]
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: arrangements for visiting, his confirmation of thirty Catholics which included a number of converts.
UC/P24/71 12 July 1844
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: confirmation dates.
Continuation of UC/P24/32 and UC/P24/74.
UC/P24/72 [1844]
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury's return to good health.
UC/P24/73 12 March 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the increased need of the Midland District for priests, his original plans for Oscott College to be at Prior Park, detailed plans on how to structure the college.
Continuation of UC/P24/41.
UC/P24/74 12 July 1844
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Bishop Willson taking the church furniture for himself, the gift by the Altar Society of a cope and 24 Pugin surplices, the need to make St Barnabas a source of salvation.
Continuation of UC/P24/32 and continued in UC/P24/71.
UC/P24/75 2 October 1845
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: a payment to the District Fund.
UC/P24/76 6 October 1845
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the bequest of Mr Hardman towards the convent, Mr Delgarim's conversion to the Passionists, the need for publicity in the
Tablet to be deprecated.
UC/P24/77 17 October 1846
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: arguing that Wiseman has forgotten Walsh's conversion movement, news of confirmations.
UC/P24/78 11 June 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his request for Mulholland to be removed from Ashbourne and replaced by Fr Agnew, Wiseman's plans to go to Rome.
UC/P24/79 30 June 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the Mulholland affair.
UC/P24/80 2 July 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: Wiseman's health before going to Rome, the opening of a new convert church at Oscott.
UC/P24/81 17 September 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: his letter to Faber urging him to resist fasting, the difficulties of dealing with Wiseman's work owing to his ill health, his expectation that Wiseman will be made bishop of the London District, the lack of
assistance by Wiseman over the Mission Fund Pastoral, requests that Shrewsbury continues to fund the missions at Newcastle and Corbridge.
UC/P24/82 15 November 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: no further news about the new Catholic hierarchy, petitions sent to Rome by the London District in favour of appointing Wiseman, Lord John Russell's fear of Wiseman's influence in London, the dire state of the
finances in the Central District.
UC/P24/83 8 December 1847
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the Mulholland affair, the likely appointment of Wiseman as archbishop, plans for Faber to take over the Cheadle mission.
UC/P24/84 28 August 1848
Letter from Walsh to Shrewsbury: the bishop of Carlow, the lack of financial support for the nuns.
UC/P24/85 16 July 1842
Letter from Charles Clifford to Walsh: Mr Gandolphi's decision to call off his marriage to Mary Teresa Clifford
2f
UC/P24/86 [July 1842]
Letter (draft) from Walsh to Charles Clifford: Mary Teresa's relationship with Mr Gandolphi and the collapse of their engagement
2f
UC/P24/87 [July 1842]
Letter from Mrs Gandolphi to Walsh: the collapse of his son's engagement to Mary Teresa Clifford
2f
UC/P24/88 26 July 1842
Letter from [?M] McDonnell to Walsh: a dispute between McDonnell's brother and Nicholas Wiseman
2f
UC/P24/89 9 November 1848
Names of persons confirmed in the chapel at Lichbourne by the Rt Rev Dr Walsh
1f
UC/P24/90 14 November 1848
Peter [?] to Walsh: informing him that the Rt Rev Morris will show him (Walsh) the jewels
2f
UC/P24/91-93 19 - 26 December 1848
Rebekah Johnson to [?Walsh]: loan of £20
3 letters
UC/P24/94 14 December 1848
J.W. Hendren to Walsh: the management of Prior Park
2f
UC/P24/95 5 January 1849
[J.W. Hendren] to Walsh: the management of Prior Park
2f
UC/P24/96 12 January 1849
Printed circular letter from William Hogarth to [?the Catholic clergy of the Northern District] calling on them to assist in raising funds for Prior Park
2p
