Jesuits in Britain

15/10/2026

St John Ogilvie SJ gave his life rather than abandon his faith. Arrested in Glasgow in 1614, the Jesuit priest endured imprisonment and was executed at Glasgow Cross on 10 March 1615 for refusing to acknowledge the King’s authority over matters of religion.

More than 400 years later, Glasgow is marking the 50th anniversary of his canonisation, honouring a martyr whose courage and fidelity to conscience remain an enduring witness to faith.

Read the story and find out about the anniversary celebrations: https://www.jesuit.org.uk/news/glasgow-celebrations-begin-to-mark-50-years-since-st-john-ogilvies-canonisation

St Aloysius’ Church leads national celebrations honouring Scottish saint

13/10/2026

What role can Catholic religious communities play in supporting people seeking sanctuary?

Speaking at the national conference of the Association of Provincial Bursars, Dr David Ryall, Director of Jesuit Refugee Service UK, urged Catholic finance leaders to stand in solidarity with refugees.

He highlighted the human cost of the asylum system, the increasingly hostile debate around migration, and the vital contribution of religious congregations in offering practical support, friendship and accompaniment.

Read the full story:

Dr David Ryall's keynote speech addressed the human cost of a broken asylum system

12/10/2026

A new play about the Jesuit priest, poet and martyr St Robert Southwell SJ will receive its world premiere in London this November.

Shakespeare’s Cousin, written and directed by Jonathan Moore, explores Southwell’s interrogation by the notorious Elizabethan priest-hunter Sir Richard Topcliffe, examining themes of religious persecution, artistic freedom and the courage to remain faithful to one’s convictions.

The play runs at the White Bear Theatre in Kennington from 10–28 November.

Ahead of the premiere, the London Jesuit Centre will host a free panel discussion exploring Southwell’s legacy on Sunday 1 November at 3pm.

Find out more:

Shakespeare’s Cousin runs at the White Bear Theatre in Kennington from 10–28 November

10/10/2026

On 11 October, our International Programmes Officer, Laura Angarita...

09/10/2026

This Prisoners’ Sunday, we are highlighting the transformative work of the The Jesuit Institute - UK’s Prison Project, which is helping people in prison rediscover faith, find hope and recognise their inherent dignity.

Through Ignatian retreats and spiritual accompaniment at prisons across Britain, participants are being offered opportunities for prayer, reflection and personal transformation.

As one prisoner at HMP Featherstone reflected: “With the love of God and a little faith, we can all be repaired.”

The Prison Project is offered free of charge to prison chaplaincies and relies on donations to continue its work.

Read more about the impact of the project and find out how you can help bring renewed faith and hope to more people in prison.

Donations will help the Prison Project reach more prisoners and chaplaincies across Britain

06/10/2026

More than 87,000 people supported. Over 645 tonnes of humanitarian aid distributed. More than 1,000 volunteers mobilised.

A new report reveals the extraordinary scale of the Jesuit response to the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.

Jesuits in Britain contributed £50,000 to the international emergency effort

06/10/2026

What treasures are held in the libraries and archives of the Jesuits in Britain?

Tomorrow, you can find out.

Come and explore rare books, fascinating historical documents and remarkable objects from the collections, meet the archivists and librarians, and discover stories from centuries of Jesuit history.

The Heythrop Library and British Jesuit Archives are opening their doors for a special joint Open Day, offering a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes and explore collections that are not usually open to the public.

Wednesday 7 October, 10.30am–4.30pm
114 Mount Street, London, W1K 3AH

Everyone is welcome and there is no need to book. Simply report to the main reception.

Find out more:

Heythrop Library and the British Jesuit Archives are opening their doors for a special joint open day, offering visitors an opportunity to discover treasures from the collections of the Jesuits in Britain.

02/10/2026

Make space this autumn to think more deeply, explore your faith and discover something new.

The London Jesuit Centre’s autumn programme brings together theology, spirituality, literature and the arts through a wide range of courses, retreats, events and opportunities for prayer.

Explore the mystery of the Incarnation, encounter the extraordinary life and thought of Hildegard von Bingen, take part in a creative day retreat, join others for guided prayer and theological discussion, and much more besides.

Many opportunities are available both at the Centre in central London and online.

Explore the autumn programme:

Discover new ways to explore faith, deepen prayer and make space for reflection

28/09/2026

What treasures are hidden inside the collections of the Jesuits in Britain?

On Wednesday 7 October, Heythrop Library and the British Jesuit Archives are opening their doors, offering a rare opportunity to explore remarkable material from their collections.

Relics, rare books and historical documents will be on display alongside more modern material, with archivists and librarians on hand to reveal the stories behind them and bring centuries of Jesuit history to life.

You can also step inside the Library and Archives reading rooms and discover how these collections are used for research today.

Wednesday 7 October, 10.30am–4.30pm
114 Mount Street, London W1K 3AH

Everyone is welcome and there is no need to book.

Find out more:

Heythrop Library and the British Jesuit Archives are opening their doors for a special joint open day, offering visitors an opportunity to discover treasures from the collections of the Jesuits in Britain.

25/09/2026

The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has called for greater protection for refugee and asylum-seeking children in the inaugural Jesuit Refugee Service UK Annual Lecture.

Speaking in central London, Dame Rachel urged policymakers and the wider public to look beyond increasingly polarised rhetoric around migration and recognise the children at the heart of the debate.

She spoke about children who have experienced violence, exploitation and trafficking on their journeys to the UK, and raised particular concerns about young people whose ages are disputed by the authorities.

Dame Rachel also shared the story of her own mother, who was a refugee child in 1945, and reflected on what the treatment of refugee children says about the kind of society we want to be.

Read the full story:

Children’s Commissioner delivers powerful inaugural lecture on the dignity of refugee children