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Institutional context
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Westminster Diocesan Archives acts as both the repository for the departments and central services of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster and the default repository for the history of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
The papers in the historic collection chiefly comprise correspondence of the Roman agents; papers relating to Synods; copies of Pastorals; correspondence of the Vicars Apostolic with clergy from the Western, Midland and Northern Districts and Scotland, 1501-1847; correspondence with Irish Bishops; correspondence with institutions of the English Catholic diaspora; correspondence with Bishops and clergy abroad, notably with the Catholic Church in the British colonies; legal papers including wills, bequests, leases and trusts and papers of institutions of the English Catholic diaspora including Douai College, 1652-1789; St Omers College, 1762-1772; the English College Rome, 1701-1783; the English College Lisbon, 1708-1791; the English Seminary Paris (also known as St Gregory's, Paris), 1762-1777; Papers of St Gregory's, Paris, (the Paris Seminary), 1701-1782 ; student register for the English College Lisbon, 1628-1715; Private correspondence and diaries, 1598-1847 and Supplementary historical papers, 1293-1889.
Westminster Diocesan Archives collects the papers of the Archbishops of Westminster: Nicholas Wiseman, 1850-1865; Henry Edward Manning, 1865-1892; Herbert Alfred Vaughan, 1892-1903; Francis Alphonsus Bourne, 1903-1935; Arthur Hinsley, 1935-1943; Bernard William Griffin, 1943-1956; William Godfrey, 1956-1962; John Carmel Heenan, 1963-1975; George Basil Hume, 1976-1999.
Westminster Diocesan Archives also acts as the repository for the various departments and central services of the Diocese of Westminster. The majority of the material relating to diocesan departments held here refers to finance, property and education.
Sacramental registers from some parishes, embassy chapels and early missions are held by Westminster Diocesan Archives. A full list is available on request.
Westminster Diocesan Archives accepts the deposits as gifts of some lay organisations in accordance with the terms of our collecting policy. Major deposits include the records of St Edmund’s College, Ware and the Old Brotherhood of the Secular Clergy.
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Conditions and requirements
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All readers are required to register on their first visit to the archive. This involves completing a short form and providing proof of name with signature and proof of address. More details are available here:
http://rcdowarchives.blogspot.com/p/visiting-us.html
In some circumstances, we may ask for a letter of introduction but we will let you know if this is necessary when an appointment is made. Failure to provide appropriate identification or to abide by the reading room rules may result in access to the archive being denied.
Access to archives less than 30 years old or containing personal information is restricted.
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Transport
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Westminster Diocesan Archives is situated within easy walking distance of High Street Kensington (Circle and District Lines) and Earls Court (Piccadilly and District Lines) underground stations, and Kensington Olympia (London Overground) station. The bus stop ‘Philimore Gardens’ is close by and is served by bus numbers 9, 10, 27, 28, 49, 328. A further bus stop on Kensington Church Street is served by bus numbers 52, 70, 452.
There is no parking available at Westminster Diocesan Archives but a large NCP carpark is located underneath Kensington Town Hall.
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