The Gradwell collection, entrusted to Liverpool Hope on the closure of St. Joseph's College at Upholland, contains material covering the following subjects: theology, philosophy, church, secular and local history, ecclesiastical history, art, architecture, sociology, education and works of general reference. It also includes recusant works and early printed works. Donations and subscriptions aside, the book collection has not been added to since 1975 when the College ceased to operate as a seminary, however, the journal and periodical collection which is mainly theological, has been kept up to date. The collection is particularly strong in Catholic studies with standard works of Catholic reference and extensive runs of Catholic periodicals and journals of use to all levels of research.
The collection also houses a section devoted to the Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890), who was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in September 2010 and soon to be canonised before too long. Newman stands as a Victorian giant in the field of theology, philosophy and education. Influencing many academic and spiritual disciplines, Newman's writings and his lifelong search for religious truth continue to inspire scholars throughout the world. Today, Liverpool Hope University seeks to continue Newman's mission. The Newman section, within the Gradwell collection, contains a generous corpus of Newman's own published works (including first editions) and books on or related to Newman. This scholarly resource is complemented by the availability of a recently updated extensive collection of Newman related publications from the main Sheppard-Worlock Library collection, further details of which can be found on the library catalogue.
There is also a significant collection of St. Thomas Aquinas material. Most exciting are the older works. The library has a substantial quantity of primary recusant material from the 17th and 18th centuries; this includes devotional works, sermons, tracts, pamphlets, biblical studies and more. There is a rich seam here of very high quality research material for those working in this generally under-researched area. Finally there is material which, while perhaps not being of obvious research significance, simply needs preserving. For example, there are materials from the 16th century in this class such as editions of the Fathers in Greek and Latin.
This is an exciting and important collection which, in addition to servicing some general undergraduate needs, has the potential to provide the basis for high quality research in one of our key mission areas. The more modern materials, and particularly the Catholic journal runs, should be made available as a regional, even national, resource. It is certainly worth noting that the Gradwell is well represented in English Catholic Books 1701-1800, F. Blom ... [et al.]
The Radcliffe collection, named after its chief donor Sir Frederick Radcliffe (1861-1952), is the Anglican library of Liverpool Cathedral and St Aidan’s college. Primarily the focus of the collection was to be a ‘liturgical library’. Radcliffe aimed to buy exemplars of every book printed for liturgical use in England during the Tudor and Stuart reigns, both Roman Catholic and Anglican, to be brought together alongside medieval manuscripts to document and observe the liturgical transition during this period. Indeed the collection houses Missals dating from the pre-Reformation era, some 15th century European manuscript books of hours, 16th and 17th century bibles and early commentaries, hymn books and ecclesiastical music, and a large number of early printed books chiefly of liturgical and scholastic interest.
There are also significant holdings of materials from the library of Christopher Wordsworth (1848-1938); great-grandson of Christopher Wordsworth (1774-1846), Master of Trinity College Cambridge, great-nephew of the poet William Wordsworth, nephew of Charles Wordsworth (1806-1892), Bishop of St. Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, son of Christopher (1807-1885), Bishop of Lincoln, and brother to John (1843-1911), Bishop of Salisbury. Christopher Wordsworth served as chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral and later was a canon of Salisbury Cathedral, where he held a number of posts including that of librarian and chancellor. Wordsworth’s library collection reflects his academic interest in historical and liturgical research as well as containing books and manuscripts that had belonged to or were written by his brother, father, uncle and grandfather.
With the refurbishment of the Sheppard-Worlock Library, Liverpool Hope can now boast a British Standard vault designed to house the Radcliffe manuscripts and early printed books which were, until very recently, held in the University of Liverpool’s Sydney Jones Library. The remainder of the Radcliffe collection, containing liturgical and antiquarian books and books of general theological interest, was transferred to the Sheppard-Worlock Library in 2009. Happily the collection can now be reunited and used as it was intended as an important resource for liturgical scholarship.
The Picton Collection is a collection of theology material on long-term loan from the Liverpool City Library Collection. This collection contains many of the classic New Testament works published before 1975, some old but extremely useful linguistic studies including older Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek lexicons, and several sets of theological texts. The collection not only enhances but also complements The Sheppard-Worlock's own collection of theology holdings, both lending and reference.
Hope has been fortunate enough to receive materials from the estate of Archbishop Stuart Blanch. These include notes from his student days at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and notes for sermons, lectures, talks and speeches made while Bishop of Liverpool (1960-1966) and Archbishop of York (1975-1983). There are also hand written works on the Gospels and transcripts of various broadcasts and press articles. Lists of these papers are available electronically from the links below.
The library has recently received a most generous donation of theology materials from the Sisters of Notre Dame. This is an outstanding private collection of an Oxford scholar. Sister Mary Charles is a noted Patristics scholar, reflected in her personal library, which focuses on the Church Fathers, both Latin and Greek, and early Christian Art.
This collection has not yet been catalogued and is available for reference use only; however, books may be requested for loan at the Library Help Point. The item would then be assessed for loan type and catalogued before being made available; this process can take up to 24 hours from the initial request.
If you have any enquiries about any of these collections please email Karen Backhouse, Special Collections Cataloguer.
Materials have been donated to create a library for the Professor Andrew F. Walls Centre for the Study of African Asian Christianity by Professor Walls himself, the University of Edinburgh (Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World) and the University of Aberdeen. The collection offers resources across a range of mission studies, its principal focus being Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. Missions from the West have had a part in the African and Asian Christian story, and this collection has substantial holdings on the history of mission and missionary activity in other parts of the world, as well as on mission theology and practice, other faiths, and the history of religions. The collection also includes many volumes on the historical, political, economic, social and religious background and context of African and Asian Christianity. The Centre was officially opened by Professor Walls in May 2008.
The collection currently contains:
In addition the Butler collection has also been received to sit alongside the CSAAC materials. The collection focuses on Non-Western Christian Art and contains a range of formats including some Indian theological journals, and 3D artefacts. There is a substantial amount of this collection still to be unpacked and assessed and it is yet to be catalogued; however, as with the Sister Mary Charles collection, items may be requested for loan at the Library Help Point.
Several individuals have donated materials to the Centre including; Rev. George Hood’s collection of materials which were acquired during his time as a missionary in China; South African materials donated by the Brothers Hofmeyr, Prof. J. W. (Hoffie) Hoymeyr and Mr. G. S. (George) Hofmeyr; and most recently materials on Indian Christianity from Canon Daniel O’Connor.
These collections are still being sorted and catalogued. Any enquiries should be emailed to Karen Backhouse, Special Collections Cataloguer.
This collection is a research collection of books, pamphlets and journals on education and related subjects has been donated by the University of Liverpool. These materials are housed in a stack adjacent to the Education collections.
The collection contains:
The Centre for Millennialism Studies is focused on the study of contemporary manifestations of millennialism/apocalypticism; particularly the ‘afterlife' of apocalyptic texts and ideas within popular culture. The collection consists of books, DVDs, games, graphic novels, comics, pamphlets and newspapers.
As the first step of collaboration between Liverpool Hope University and Biblioteca Diocesana of Modena-Nonantola Diocese, the two institutions are opening their catalogues.
Library catalogue - contains the catalogues of 100 ecclesiastic libraries of which Modena-Nonantola hold copies PBE03 and PBE09
Serial Catalogue - this also covers multiple libraries catalogues with MO033 held at Modena-Nonantola
Currently the online catalogues cover 30% of all documents. The library staff at Modena-Nonantola can undertake a search of the complete paper catalogue (especially ancient documents, manuscripts, etc.) and, if required, are able to check if specific documents are available.
Within Italian copyright legislation Modena-Nonantola are offering to provide a digital version of documents for Liverpool Hope staff or students to support their studies and research. Anyone interested in these arrangements should contact Susan Murray, Head of Library Service.
The following classification schemes and printed catalogues are available for consultation online and in the Reading Room.
Andrew Walls' Centre classification (CSAAC)
Radcliffe early printed books