Person DS/UK/1350 Walmesley; Herman (1850-1927); Jesuit Priest Walmesley Herman 1850-1927 Jesuit Priest Male Born 9 February 1850, Lancashire. Entered the English Province of the Society of Jesus 18 December 1867. Ordained as a Roman Catholic priest 24 September 1882. Final vows in the Society of Jesus 2 February 1886. Died 22 January 1927, Rome.

Herman Walmsley was born in 1850 and went to Stonyhurst College in 1860. He entered the Noviceship 18 December 1867. After Philosophy, he began his teaching at Stonyhurst in the school of Figures, and taught his boys as far as Grammar. He was ordained 24 September 1882 and was then Prefect-General at St Aloysius’, Glasgow. His tertianship was cut short the following year when he was appointed master of Syntax at Stonyhurst. There he remained, with the exception of a year spent with the Juniors at Manresa, till the completion of his rectorate in 1898. The rectorate at Stonyhurst began in 1891 and during this time he added to the interior decoration of the Boy’s Chapel: the altar-piece, reredos, panelling and organ loft. Two centenaries were celebrated: the 300th anniversary of the founding of St Omers in 1892, and the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Stonyhurst College the following year. In Autumn 1898 he sailed for South Africa, where he had been appointed as Rector of St Aidan’s College, Grahamstown. As Rector he oversaw the extension of College buildings and the erection of the Drill Hall. Fr Walmesley was also Prefect of Studies, was one of the promoters of the scheme for a University College in Grahamstown, and contributed £500 towards the project. He held the office of Rector until 4 February 1907 when he was recalled to England and appointed Assistant for the English Assistancy of the Society in the following July. In this position the whole business of the English-speaking Provinces of the Society passed through his hands, including the Canadian and American Provinces and Missions. He held this post until age forced him into retirement in 1923. After that he was Confessor of the Jesuit Church of the Gesù. Fr Walmesley had taken up his work in Rome in July 1907. In August 1915 the Curia moved to Zizers in Switzerland so that government should be in a neutral country. He was assisted there, from October 1917, by Fr William MacMahon. With the declaration of peace, Fr General and his advisers returned to Rome, and Fr Walmesley continued his work right through the busy time which preceded the 27th Congregation as well as at the Sessions themselves. When he was relieved of his office, he continued living in the German College and was confessor of more than one theological college. By the middle of January 1927, his cough was becoming troublesome, so that he could no longer go on his accustomed walks, and he was by the advice of the infirmarian put to bed. He died 22 January 1927. Member of the English Province of the Society of Jesus. Catalogus Defunctorum 1814-1970; Letters and Notices vol. 42, pp. 173-180 International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 Yes AvanGoethem 09/05/2019 CURIA\mallen 12/05/2021 232a8761-4064-45d1-bcf4-5ee2a14aaf87