The origins of the collection can be traced to Leuven in 1614, where English Jesuits established a house of studies during a period when the training of Catholic priests had to take place in exile.
Over the centuries that followed, the collections moved repeatedly as the circumstances of the Society of Jesus and Catholic education in Britain changed. They were housed at different times in continental Europe, at Stonyhurst and St Beuno’s, at Heythrop Hall in Oxfordshire and, from 1970, in London.
The move to Heythrop Hall in August 1926 was particularly significant because it reunited collections that had previously been divided. The Library remained there until Heythrop College moved to London in 1970.
Reflecting on this history, Heythrop Librarian Clemens Gresser said: “If I had to summarise the Library’s history I would come up with the heading ‘Movers and shakers!’”
The Library continued to evolve after its arrival in London. When Heythrop College closed in 2018, more than 140,000 volumes were moved from central London to specialist storage in Ruislip, while Jesuits in Britain committed to maintaining and developing the collection and making it available to readers.
Further significant moves have taken place since then. In 2023, around 75,000 volumes were relocated in approximately 6,000 boxes. More than 1,000 of the Library’s approximately 25,000 pre-1801 books, including incunabula, have also been deposited at Campion Hall, the Jesuit Permanent Private Hall at the University of Oxford.
Today, the Library continues to grow. Since the closure of Heythrop College, between 600 and 800 books have been acquired each year, alongside books transferred from other Jesuit libraries. The Library also continues to maintain extensive runs of journals and magazines, some stretching back centuries.
Its holdings are particularly strong in Ignatian spirituality and Jesuitica, alongside substantial collections in theology, philosophy and related subjects. The Library now serves a diverse community of readers, while its main reading room at the London Jesuit Centre provides access to a specialist collection independent of a university or publicly funded institution.
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For Clemens, the centenary is therefore not simply about looking back, but about ensuring that a collection which has survived centuries of change remains relevant and accessible.
“My own 5-years contribution feels feeble on the timeline of 400+ years,” he said, “but I can assure you that we are working very hard on keeping the Library relevant and available to those in the UK who need to have access to a stand alone library collection.”
One constant throughout that long history has been the support of Jesuits in Britain for the Library and its collections. As Heythrop marks this latest milestone, Clemens hopes that support will enable the collection to continue serving readers for generations to come.
“If you want to help us in keeping the Library going for the next 100 years, please consider donating to us,” he said.
Donations to the Heythrop Library can be made via the website: Donate or pay – Heythrop Library.
