LOCKHART, WILLIAM. - Rosminian, born at Varingham (Surrey) on 22 Aug. 1820, died in London on 15 May 1892. At first a convinced Protestant, he felt his faith shaken by reading Catholic books of religious controversy and by the persuasive words of the Rosminian Fr. Gentili.
He made his abjuration and entered the Rosminians in 1843; he completed his studies and, ordained priest in 1846, devoted himself to preaching and missionary work. On returning from a journey to Rome he visited Rosmini, whose works he translated in part; in London he bought and restored the ancient abbey of S. Etheldreda, restoring its church (13th cent.) to worship and establishing there a residence of his Order.
He was the first of the “Tractarians” to convert to Catholicism, and his return to the Catholic faith made a profound impression on his friend Newman, who shortly afterwards followed his example.
He wrote many popular pamphlets; he founded and directed the Catholic Opinion, until it merged with the Tablet; also noteworthy are: The Communion of the Saints (London 1868), The old Religion, or how shall we find primitive Christianity (ibid. 1868), Life of A. Rosmini, 2 vols. (ibid. 1886; vol. I had already been published by G. S. Mc Walter [ibid. 1883]).