Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
The college is named after St. John Henry Newman. Newman was a leader of the Oxford Movement in nineteenth century England and one of the most distinguished Anglican converts to Catholicism. He founded the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in Birmingham and later became a Cardinal. He was one of the leading nineteenth century theologians, a great scholar deeply interested in education, and author of many works, including "The Idea of a University". His beatification was declared by Pope Benedict XVI in Birmingham on 19 September 2010.