Westminster's seminary launches new website

A new website has been launched for Allen Hall, the Seminary of the Diocese of Westminster.
The new website, www.allenhall.org.uk provides information to men who are considering the Catholic priesthood and helps people understand the process of formation that takes place in the seminary.

It also gives practical information about life at Allen Hall and information to those wishing to use the seminary facilities for conferences or accommodation.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said: "I welcome everyone to the new Allen Hall website. I hope that it will help people to appreciate the valuable work of our Diocesan seminary, and the rich history of priestly formation in this country. I hope especially that it will help those thinking about priesthood to see the beauty of this vocation, and be inspired to find out more about the priesthood and the Diocese."

Canon Paul McGinn, Rector of Allen Hall said: "Our motto is 'Vivamus in spe', which means 'We live in hope', has inspired hundreds of students since our foundation in 1568. Our new website will give people a glimpse inside Allen Hall and allow then to better understand our community."

The website has been designed and developed by Andrew Connick, a third year student at Allen Hall with a background in computing, together with a team of staff and students.

Andrew said: "It has been a challenge to design a website that is attractive, user-friendly, and useful. We hope the website will help bring the seminary much closer to the people of the Diocese; and at the same time, it should be a real resource for all those interested in the priesthood and the Catholic Church."

Content of the new website includes articles, reflections, documents and links to encourage men who are considering a vocation to the priesthood, as well as testimonies and vocational stories of current students. There is also information about the 400 year history of Allen Hall and a photographic tour of the house, as well as photo galleries of recent events.

Allen Hall's history dates back to the foundation of a seminary in Douai, France, by Cardinal William Allen in 1568. This college quickly became dedicated to the training of missionary priests for England.

In 1793 the college moved back to English soil, to Old Hall Green, Ware.

In 1975, the seminary moved again to Chelsea, to the site of Saint Thomas More's Great House, uniting the tradition of the college of missionaries and martyrs with that of the pre-Reformation Church and her traditions. It remains there to this day.