Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall

Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall has a rich history that dates back to 1593 when it was established as the English Jesuit College of St Omers by the English Jesuit priest, Fr Robert Persons SJ. The school was intended to provide a safe learning environment for the sons of English Catholic families who had remained faithful to Rome, at a time when such education was not allowed in their home country. Fr Robert Persons SJ received patronage from Philip II of Spain to start the institution in Saint-Omer, a town that was then part of the Spanish Netherlands. The curriculum at the College was in accordance with the Jesuit order's 1599 Ratio Studiorum, considered as the earliest modern curriculum that existed. This curriculum governed the type of education imparted at all Jesuit schools around the world. Alongside traditional humanist education focusing on Classics, it also necessitated studying history and mathematics and promoted poetry, drama, and music. Over time, Stonyhurst has valued the immense educational possibilities presented by its unique past and the cultural heritage manifested in its historical collections, initiating a program to restore its exceptional historical buildings and property.