The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-08-10
ENGLISH CATHOLIC CITY
Norwich, the Scene of Last Weeks
Catholic Congress, has an interest
ing Catholic History-one Of the
Oldest Missions in England-Fa-
Their Alban Butler Ministered there
Duke of Norfolk Built Present
Church.

On the occasion of the third English
Catholic Congress held at Norwich last
week all eyes were turned upon the
ancient capital of East Anglia and
it may be of interest to give few de-
tails of the past history of post-Refor-
nation Catholicity in the old city. 1t
is not know by many, says Glorious
in the Liverpool Times, that the mag
nificent church Of st. John Baptist,
built by the Duke of Norfolk, which
made so grand a setting for the
ecclesiastical functions that took place
during the great assembly of Catho-
lies in August, is not the first Catho-
lie place of worship built for Norwich
Catholics by Duke of Norfolk. In
the block of buildings now used as
the offices of the Guardians of the
Poor is still existent perfect little
chapel of the eighteenth century
period and style, which might be
used today for it's original purpose
if few circumstances in the shape
of very unecclesiastical furniture were
cleared away. The ducal coronet in
the mouldings on walls and ceiling
bespeak the noble founder. The his
tory of this interesting relic of past
days is thus by Mr.. Eusebius Andrews,
Norwich Catholic, author the RE
view of Foxes Book of Martyrs"
journalist, friend and supporter of
Bishop Miner, and editor of the
Orthodox Journal" and other Catho-
lie publications. "The mission of the
secular clergy in Norwich he writes,
seems to have been Che might have
said certainly was") under the pro-
lection and patronage of former Dukes
of Norfolk, who had palace therein,
and used frequently to reside within
it's walls, exercising all the ancient
customs of hospitality and displaying
all the dignity and frankness peculiar
to English noblemen in days gone by.
A dispute having arisen between one
of the dukes and the then mayor OF
the city respecting the public entrance
of the dukes servants and attendants,
his Grace of Norfolk took such high
offence thereat that he gave up his
establishment, and never after en-
tered the city. The palace (where
the secular priests had oficiated in
the dukes chapel, after remaining
empty for some time, was at length
let to the Guardians of the Poor, to
be converted into, workhouse, and
handsome house and chapel were
erected adjoining for the use of the
Catholics and chaplain in the year
1854"
Famous Norwich Missionaries.
This chapel, now in the possession
of the Guardians, and forming, as
has been said, part of their offices,
was not left along in the possession
of the<Norwich Catholics, they being
ousted when the successor of the
founder embraced the State religion.
The priest for whom it was built was
famous Norwich missionary, the
Rev. Edward Beaumont, of the family
of Beaumont, the poet. He lived to
the age of Lightweight, having exer-
cised his ministry in Norwich for no
less than sixty-two years, and died,
beloved by all who knew him, on
August l, 1920 He was the last of
the Dukes chaplains, and the first
incumbent of the little Chapel of St.
John, Maddermarket-the immediate
predecessor of the present Church of
ST. John-which he built.
Amongst the priests who preceded
him at the Dukes Palace was the Rev.
Alban Butler, the famous author of
| the lives of the Saints. A curious
story is on record in connection with
A1ban Butler. He came to Norwich
in the capacity of chaplain to Edward,
ninth Duke of Norfolk, and resided at
the Dukes Palace. On his first COM
ing to Norwich it was still thought
prudent for priests to pass under an