THE
ST BARNABAS SOCIETY Formerly The Converts’ Aid Society
125th Anniversary 1896 - 2021
‘We would wish … to come to the aid of those who have taken this step or are ready to take it. For this purpose what we ourselves have thought of, and now propose to you, would be the formation of a considerable fund for the help of converted Anglican clergymen’ Pope Leo XIII to Cardinal Herbert Vaughan - 23rd August 1896
FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER
In 1871, three decades after his conversion, St John Henry Newman was asked
whether he would still join the Roman Catholic Church.
He replied that had he refused the 'grace of conversion' in 1845, it would
have been withdrawn. He himself 'would have been left a worthless stump, to cumber the ground and remain where I was until I died'.
For more than a century, the St Barnabas Society has supported those who
have bravely accepted the call of this conversion, often at substantial financial and social loss, so that they might continue their mission within our Church. The Society's tireless work continues offering not just financial but pastoral support to those joining the Church. There is no sign that it will not be needed for decades to come. On the Society's 125th birthday, we remember with gratitude the sacrifices made by every one of the beneficiaries of the St Barnabas Society. We pray for them all. I hope you will feel able to support them generously in this important anniversary year for the Society.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols President, The St Barnabas Society
ST BARNABAS St Barnabas features in the Acts of the Apostles. Originally a Cypriot Jew, it was
through him around the year AD 39 that the convert Saul was welcomed into the apostolic community. Four years later Barnabas enlisted the aid of Saul for the task of guiding and directing the new established Christian community at Antioch, a town then ranked in importance as second only to Rome. It was Saul under his new name of Paul – the greatest convert the Church has known – who then took the lead as he and his company made their way to the mainland of Asia Minor around AD 45.
The first mention of Barnabas in the Acts singled him out as a supreme
example of the charity which was to characterise those on whom the Holy Spirit had descended. He shared with Paul the hardships of a 1,500 mile journey, but always took second place. Barnabas was reportedly stoned to death at Salamis in his native Cyprus. It needed the intense fire of a Paul to set the mediterranean world alight. It needed the quiet encouragement of a Barnabas to make of that fire the light that would enlighten the world.
The Book of Saints
THE SOCIETY The Converts Aid Society – now the St Barnabas Society – was founded in 1896.
The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Herbert Vaughan, had been encouraged by Pope Leo XIII to come to the aid of Anglican clergy resigning from the Church of England and asking to be received as Catholics. The Society was founded with the core objectives of welcoming with kindness and attention those who have embraced the truth at all cost, finding Catholic acquaintance and friends for those who have forfeited former friendships for Christ's sake and assisting clergymen, especially married clergymen with families, whose conversion has reduced them to need as they embrace the Catholic faith. G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc have been among its patrons.
The Society has assisted thousands in its 125-year history, and has suppported up
to one hundred converts at any one time. Its assistance is often critical in helping many make the journey to ordination as Catholic priests having lost their incomes, and often their homes, at the point of conversion. While no financial help is offered until after reception into the Catholic Church, extensive pastoral support is usually provided long before that. There are convert priests in nearly every Diocese in the country. Many Bishops say they are now a critical part of their Diocesan family. The Society has helped many priests join the Ordinariate and has seen a significant rise in approaches from new applicants since the 2019 canonisation of Saint John Henry Newman. The number of new applications has continued to rise during the Covid pandemic. Between 2018 and 2020, the Society effected strategic reviews of its property, investment and grantmaking portfolios to ensure that it was protecting its important work for as long into the future as possible. The Society has always relied solely on generous personal donations – both during lifetimes and as legacies – to support its work from the Catholic community nationwide. It remains indebted to every donor, regular giver and legator for making that work possible for the last 125 years, and the next.
RECENT BENEFICIARIES Tom Wintle After a flurry of activity at the start of Easter in 2020, we all found that we didn't have much choice but to slow down. I spent an awful lot of time in lockdown, like almost everyone else, not doing an awful lot. But I did manage to spend more time in prayer – more time listening. It became clear that the Almighty was speaking. In the end, making the decision to be received into the Catholic Church wasn't especially difficult. The obvious place to start those first conversations, however, seemed to me to be the organisation working to support people like me. Fr Paul and the St Barnabas Society responded immediately. That's precisely why the Society is so important and is doing such valuable work. The Archbishop and Archdiocese of Birmingham have been wonderful and, after my reception at Birmingham Cathedral in January 2021, I received the warmest and most generous of welcomes and am heading to seminary. I certainly wouldn't be where I am without the help and support of the St Barnabas Society.
David Cherry I have a great sense of thanksgiving to the Society of St Barnabas. After 26 years of ordained ministry in the Church of England I finally responded to the next step in following God’s call. It took the form of St Ignatius’ Suscipe: 'Take Lord and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will ...' It is a dangerous prayer to pray. I was able to do so by grace alone. There are many attachments which prevent one from hearing God’s call. It is a big upheaval to leave the known for a new community of faith. The moment I met Fr Paul at the St Barnabas Society, I knew I was among friends. So it was with immense joy and thanksgiving that I came home. You have to give up picking and choosing and simply let yourself be chosen. 'The Lord asks everything of us,' writes Pope Francis, 'and in return he offers you true life'. After that joyful day the discernment process in the Diocese continued gently and unhurriedly. I was able to trust and look forward because I had a home and a small living allowance. I am now in my first year of seminary formation. So heartfelt thanks to all who contribute to the St Barnabas Society so that it can support people like me in a time of transition.
Marc Cole We were once Protestants. I was pastor to my own church. Through a profound conversion of conscience, we crossed the River Tiber in August 2011. As a result of this decision and conversion, we met many hardships.Many friends chastised us. We started out with some means of funding, but they ran out. In March 2018 we had faced a financial abyss when looking at the depth of our bills, the lack of money, and the lack of options. Even if we both got another part-time job, we wouldn't make enough to make all the ends meet. Panic was baying at the door. It was then that we were introduced to the St Barnabas Society. We met Fr Paul. The kindness shown to us was overwhelming, like soothing music on jangled nerves, or a hug in the midst of emotional chaos. Fr Paul was very kind with us. We had to wait a few weeks for a final decision, and we were awarded enough to cover our bills. My wife and I are grateful to God through the Society. We have no idea where we'd be right now if it weren't for its generosity and kindness. It should be said … we haven't and never would regret our conversion, no matter the cost.
John Owens Having converted to Christianity at 18, I attempted to find a home amongst the various Protestant groups. This was unimaginably difficult because none could match my understanding of what the Bible said about the Church. After seven years of search, I submitted myself to the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England and was ordained Deacon at Leicester Cathedral. However, I later read many books which, by the grace of God, broke down my prejudices and I was finally received with my wife and family into the Catholic Church in December 2013. Four years later, Bishop Patrick McKinney of Nottingham gave me the further gift of having the opportunity to discern a vocation to the Catholic Priesthood at Oscott. Without the help of the St. Barnabas Society we would have been left with nothing and could not have survived the wilderness that convert clergy life can often be. Having now been ordained, I cannot thank the Society and its supporters enough for the kindnesses we have so undeservedly received.
Joshua Brown In an evangelical Christian home, the little I did know about the Catholic faith was gleaned from negative depictions of Catholicism on television or pejorative comments made by well-meaning Sunday school teachers. Like so many converts who find their way to the St Barnabas Society, the choice to become Catholics meant more than simply changing where we went on a Sunday. The choice to become Catholics meant we lost our family home and my livelihood. Our electricity was cut off and we had very little food. I remember sitting in the cold darkness of our home wondering how we were going to make it. Even worse, many of our friends and family reproached us while others simply refused to talk to us anymore. It was when things were at their bleakest that our priest put us in contact with the St Barnabas Society who quickly came to our aid.
Matthew Topham My wife and I, and our young son, were received into the Catholic Church on Lætare Sunday, appropriately enough, given that the day’s Gospel was the parable of the Prodigal Son. I had been an Anglican curate for about 18 months, but had arrived at the inescapable decision that we could no longer continue to be part of the Anglican communion. He was offering us the grace to make the first step. I resigned my curacy and we prepared to be received into the Church through the Ordinariate. Happily, I’d heard about the St Barnabas Society. I took myself to Oxford again (and how appropriate that the Society should be within sight and sound of Littlemore, site of Saint John Henry Newman’s reception), to meet Fr. Paul who was kindness and welcome made flesh, allaying so many of my fears and doubts. Amidst all the many small heartbreaks of leaving behind house and acquaintance and losing identity it was such a great comfort to know that, materially, we were supported. The Good Lord, who by His grace had prompted and drawn us, had by raising up the St Barnabas Society made provision for us too.
'Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas … having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet' – Acts 4.36-37 'And when Barnabas found Saul, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch' – Acts 11.26 Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord’ - Acts 15.36
SUPPORTING THE
ST BARNABAS SOCIETY
We hope you will consider joining the valued family of donors who make the Society's work possible, now and for the years ahead. If you would like to speak to the Director or the Chairman about making a donation or a legacy, please call 01865 513377. Donations can always be sent to The St Barnabas Society, Windsor House, Sandy Lane, Oxford OX4 6LB or made through www.stbarnabassociety.org.uk/support-us Regular donations, on a monthly or annual basis, are particularly welcome as they help us plan our work. Legacies, which do so much to secure our long term future, can easily be made by adding the following clause, or similar, to a Will: 'I give a pecuniary legacy absolutely and free of Inheritance Tax to the following charity: the sum of XXXXX Thousand Pounds to the St Barnabas Society (Registered charity in England and Wales no 1009910 and in Scotland no SC046482) of Windsor House, Sandy Lane, Oxford OX4 6LB.' Thank you. Mass is offered weekly for all our benefactors.
'I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first' - Revelations 2.19
Front cover – St Barnabas Blessed (Marcelo Lavallen, 2019) Back cover – St Barnabas and St Paul (Marcelo Lavallen, 2019)