Alice Harrison (1680 – 1765) was a
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
schoolmistress known for founding an influential
Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
school in Lancashire.
Life
Harrison was born in
Fulwood Row near
Preston. She became a Catholic despite her
Protestant
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
parents' objections.
She was inspired by the local Catholic priest, Edward Melling, who encouraged her to start a local school. The school accepted children of any denomination but was focused on a Catholic education, even though it was illegal to be a Catholic teacher. Her pupils were taken daily to
St Mary's Church in Fernyhalgh. Her students paid a shilling and sixpence every three months and many would board locally at a charge of five pounds per annum. Some of the students grew to be leading Catholics and were sent abroad for further study.
Her alumni included the writer
Alban Butler
Alban Butler (13 October 171015 May 1773) was an English Roman Catholic priest and hagiography, hagiographer. Born in Northamptonshire, he studied at the English College, in Douai, Douay, France where he later taught philosophy and theology. He s ...
,
Thomas Southworth
Thomas Southworth is an American politician. He serves as a Democratic member for the Strafford 11th district of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire ...
(1749–1816), president of Sedgley Park;
John Daniel who was the last president of the English College, Douai, and
John Gillow President of
Ushaw College
Ushaw College (formally St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw) is a former Roman Catholic Church, Roman Catholic seminary, which until 2011 was also a Colleges of Durham University#Types of College, licensed hall of residence of Durham University near th ...
.
[
The person who took on the leadership of her school after she retired in 1760 was the poet Peter Newby who was also an ex pupil of hers and of Douai College. She spent about five years in retirement in the care of the Gerard family.][
Harrison died in Garswood Hall. Later a plaque was placed in Windleshaw Abbey. The plaque reads “WITHIN THESE HALLOWED GROUNDS REPOSE THE ASHES OF ONE WHO DID GREAT THINGS FOR GOD AND HIS CHURCH. ALICE HARRISON (DAME ALICE) SCHOOL MISTRESS AT LADYWELL, FERNYHALGH.
SHE DIED AT GARSWOOD, ANNO CIRCITER 1760,
AETATIS 80, R.I.P.Plaque at Windleshaw Abbey]
/ref>
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Alice
1680 births
1765 deaths
Schoolteachers from Preston, Lancashire
English Roman Catholics