Dossier 2025-06-23/2205 - Varia

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FILING CABINET 009:

DRAWER TWO: SPENCER PAPERS

FILE ONE: FATHER IGNATIUS SPENCER: VARIA:

1. A photocopy of an entry in the Staffordshire Advertiser, 1834 referring to Fr George Spencer’s having been at the opening of the Catholic Chapel at Newcastle-under-Lyme on 13 May. Two copies.

2. An original letter from Bishop D. Murray, Mountjoy Square, Dublin, 7 December 1838 to Bishop Walsh of the Midland District, saying he had received a letter from the Hon. and Revd George Spencer requesting his co-operation with his charitable project of storming heaven by prayers for the conversion of England to the Catholic faith. “I lost no time in laying the subject before a numerous body of my Clergy, and they, at once, entered most zealously into the view of this holy Missionary.”
   “Mr Spencer’s letter was dated from London, without his particular address being mentioned. May I then request Your Lordship, who must have frequent opportunities of communicating with him, to inform him, when convenient, that our humble efforts shall be earnestly offered, in union with those of his other numerous Associates, for the attainment of the great object, about which he and they are so justly solicitous.
   I avail myself of this opportunity to wish Your Lordship from my heart many happy returns of the coming Festivity and to express anew the sentiments of respect and attachment, with which I have the honour to be
   My dear Lord,
   Most faithfully Yrs.

   • D. Murray
     The Right Revd Doctor Walsh.”

3. A typed account (anonymous) of ‘The part played by the Hon. and Rev. George Spencer in the establishment of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in England and Wales and his own account of the SVP in the Catholic Magazine, 11 January 1843. 6 copies.

4. Extract from the Baptismal Register of St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham - Baptism of George Spencer Payne, born 5 August 1845; baptised 13 August 1845, son of John Douglas Payne and Lucy Payne (formerly Wareing) by Father John Moore. Godfather: George Spencer; Godmother: Juliana Wareing.
   [The two ladies were aunts of Father Placid Wareing CP.]

5. An original letter from Father Frederick William Faber, St Mary’s, Sydenham, Kent, 28 August 1852 to “Revd Sir” about a life of Paul of the Cross being printed in the Oratorian Series. Refers to Blessed Dominic Barberi, Father Ignatius Spencer, Father Leonard Fryer CP and “Father Provincial”. Not clear to whom it is addressed, other than that he is a Passionist.

6. A photograph of the original sketch for the Memorial Cross to mark the spot where Father Ignatius Spencer died. [See FILING CABINET 009: DRAWER TWO: SPENCER PAPERS, FILE SEVEN: MONTEITH FAMILY: MEMORIAL CROSS] 2. Letter, John Bree, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, 26 January 1931 to Father Urban [Young]. Says his wife’s father was Charles Petrolini. He was a sculptor, a carver and an artist. He carved the monument erected to Father Ignatius Spencer at the spot on the Monteith estate where he died. Sends a photo of the drawing of the Memorial when he had completed it; as well as two other photos of paintings he did - one of the Passionist settlement at the Hyde (1849-1858) and one of a little place contiguous to the Passionist house at the Hyde. Charles Petrolini had wanted to be a Passionist but did not actually enter. [See also Archives, Sisters of the Cross and Passion for Sister Veronica Petrolini from London, who knew Fr Ignatius Spencer, died in Sutton and is buried there in St Anne’s cemetery.]

7. A letter, Rome, 17 February 1925 from Cardinal Gasquet to Father Dunn about papers he had given to Father Philip for him and enclosing one, which he says is from Father Spencer but the letter with his is, in fact, from Earl Spencer, 30 April 1893. It is addressed to “Revd Father” and refers to “Mr Asquith, the Home Secretary”.