English College of St Gregory

The English College of St Gregory was an English Catholic seminary in Seville, Spain. It was founded by the English Jesuit Robert Persons in 1592, when Roman Catholicism was illegal in England, to provide his native country with priests. The dedication of the college to St Gregory recalls the Gregorian mission of AD 596, which resulted in the Anglo-Saxons being converted to Christianity.

In 1596, in Seville, Persons wrote Memorial for the Reformation of England, concerning how England might be returned to the Roman Catholic faith. Teaching staff included Richard Smith who developed different ideas from Persons about the project. Smith returned to England in 1603.

Persons died in Rome in 1610, but the institution continued, although short of funds. It was supported by the Jesuits until 1767 when Charles III, in a surprise move, expelled the order from Spain. Its assets were then transferred to the English College in Valladolid, which had also been founded by Persons. This continued to function under the protection of the Spanish crown.

Alumni

 * Archbishop Patrick Fitzsimons STD, Irish Bishop, served as Archbishop of Dublin
 * Bishop Michael Fitzwalter, Irish Bishop who served as Auxiliary Bishop of Seville.

Other English Catholic Colleges

 * English College, Douai, a past Catholic seminary in Douai, France, closed in 1793
 * English College, Lisbon, a past Roman Catholic seminary in Lisbon, Portugal, closed in 1973
 * English College, Valladolid, a residence and training centre for the training of Catholic priests in Valladolid, Spain
 * English College, Rome, a Roman Catholic seminary in Rome, Italy