CHALLONIER, RICHARD. - Heroic apostle, brilliant apologist and English ascetical writer, b. at Lewes in Sussex on 29 Sept. 1691, d. on 10 Jan. 1781. The son of Protestants, he entered the Church at the age of 13 (1704), together with his mother, who, having become a widow, had entered the service of the Catholic Sir John Gage, at Firle, then of the Catholic Sir George Holman of Warkworth (Northamptonshire), whose wife Lady Anastasia was a daughter of the bl. William Howard, martyr in 1680. Their chaplain, the apologist John Gother, recommended C. to the college of Douai, where he began his studies in 1705, was ordained a priest in 1716 and taught philosophy from 1712. In 1720 he became professor of theology and vice-rector. He took his doctorate in theology at the University of Douai (1727).
The following year he published his first book: Think Well on't. In 1730 he arrived in the English mission, distinguishing himself in the care of souls and in apologetic writing. In the preface to The Catholic Christian instructed (1738) he demonstrated the sophisms of Dr. Conyers Middleton's Letter from Rome showing an exact conformity between Popery and Paganism. The latter vilely resorted to the punitive laws against C., who, on advice, withdrew for a time to Douai. At the request of Dr. Petre, vicar apostolic of the London district, the S. C. of Propaganda appointed him his coadjutor and titular bishop of Debra (1740); he was consecrated at Hammersmith on 29 Jan. 1741. The district comprised ten English counties, the Channel Islands, and the British possessions in America. C. immediately began a complete visitation of the counties.
He published Garden of the Soul, a prayer book for the people (1740), Memoirs of Missionary Priests (1741), and the work that is still the central source of information concerning the English martyrs, Britannia Sancta (1745). His translation of the New Testament (1749) is still improperly called the "Douai version" (v. DOUAI, BIBBIA di), although it is much more than a revision of it. C. also recast the version of the Old Testament (1750), and then published the new, greatly improved edition of the entire Bible (1752) for the use of English-speaking Catholics. Also noteworthy are the frequently reprinted Meditations for every day in the year (1753), besides many other ascetical, apologetic and catechetical works, translations, pamphlets and minor writings.
In 1758 C. succeeded Dr. Petre as vicar apostolic. He founded schools at Standon Lordship and Sedgelye Park (later transferred to St Edmund's, Ware, and to Cotton), and one for poor girls at Brook Creek, Hammersmith. Persecuted by the "priest-hunters", he often had to change his residence. His alms were incalculable. He barely escaped the pursuit of the seditious anti-Catholics of Gordon (1780). He died six months later.
C. is undoubtedly the greatest Catholic figure in England from the "Reformation" to the 19th century, so much so that all Catholics and many Protestants venerate him as a saint. His body was transferred from the parish church of Milton, Buckinghamshire, and laid in Westminster Cathedral in Easter week 1946.
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Enrico E. G. Rope