Catholic National Library (formerly Catholic Central Library)

Collections

The Library houses an extensive collection of books, pamphlets and periodicals in theology, spirituality and related subjects, biography, history, Catholic fiction, many rare works.

Special Collections

The Library houses some special collections:

Location

The Abbot and Community of St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough very generously provide accommodation for the Library.

Volunteers and Donations

The work of the Library would be impossible without the support of our many volunteers and benefactors. The Foundation Appeal was launched November 2007. If you would like to help, please click on Appeal.

LENDING
AND
REFERENCE
LIBRARY

Over 70,000 books, pamphlets, and 150 periodicals.

Too far to come? Then take advantage of our Postal Service.

Need B&B accommodation while you research - see B&B List

Membership

Ordinary annual membership is £30. For information about Postal, Corporate, Reading Room and Life Membership click on Membership.

Services

The Library offers Members a range of services including:

*A fee may apply.

History

The Library was started by William Reed-Lewis in 1912. It has had an interesting and varied history.

William Reed-Lewis

by Joan Bond

Born in Philadelphia 25th November 1860
Married Rebecca Duane in 1880.
There were five children of this marriage, two of whom died as infants
Rebecca died in 1889 in Tangier where her husband was US Consul and Charge d'Affaires to Morocco 1887-1890
He came to England and married Mary Balmain Wynch in St Leonards-on-Sea and for a time he resided in Belgium where children of this marriage were born.
He became a Catholic in 1895.
He resided in Bexhill-on-Sea 1911-1923. Whilst in Bexhill he founded the Bexhill library in 1912. This developed into both a Catholic library sending books all over the world and the Bexhill Public Library of which he is regarded as the founder.
During the First World War he worked actively for Belgian refugees, being personally involved in arranging accommodation in schools and private homes in the Bexhill area.
For this work he was awarded the MBE and in 1922 he was created a Knight of St Gregory by Pope Pius XI in recognition of his work for the library. After working for the Catholic Truth Society in London he and his wife retired to Dinard in Brittany in the 1930's
He was still in Dinard in 1940 when the Germans occupied France
As he had taken British citizenship, both he and wife were taken to an interment camp in Besancon where he died on 17th January 1941.
His wife survived the camp and on being repatriated to this country, in very poor health, lived with the Poor Clares in Notting Hill, where their daughter was a member of the community, until her death.

Catholic National Library, St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough Road, Farnborough, Hants GU14 7NQ, United Kingdom Directions and Map

Telephone: 01252 543818 Email: library at catholic dash library dot org dot uk. Site Map