Henry Weedall

Who was Henry Weedall?

Henry Weedall was a British nineteenth century Roman Catholic preacher, educator and churchman.

He was born in London the son of a doctor. Both his parents died during his early childhood. He was educated at Sedgley Park, and at St. Mary's College, Oscott, a seminary near Birmingham, from 1804 to 1814. He was ordained a priest at Wolverhampton on 6 April 1814. He had been acting as a junior master at Oscott, and after his ordination he continued to teach classics, assisting also in the care of the Oscott mission.

In the beginning of 1816 he became prefect of studies; and when Thomas Walsh became president, Weedall undertook the vice-presidency, taught Divinity, and had the spiritual care of lay-students and the familia. From the summer of 1821 he had been in effect the president of Oscott, and when Bishop Walsh left Oscott, on succeeding to the vicariate, Weedall was made president in name also.

Bishop Walsh named him his vicar- general, and obtained for him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He had been elected a member of the Old Chapter, 8 May 1827. Under his rule Oscott made noteworthy progress, and the present college edifice, two miles from the old, was erected.