The Heythrop Library dates back to 1614 when the Jesuits founded their college in Leuven dedicated to the education of future Jesuit priests preparing for work in what was then the English mission.
Most recently, it was the library of Heythrop College, University of London. When the College closed in 2019, the Jesuits in Britain, who are its owners, remained committed to the upkeep and development of the collection both for the continued use of those training for ministry in the Church and of the wider academic community. It also supports the studies of those engaged in programmes here at the London Jesuit Centre.
A brief chronology of the Library’s seven locations and moves over 410+ years:
- 1614-1624 Leuven
- 1624-1794 Liège
- 1794-1926 Stonyhurst
- 1848-1926 St Beuno’s (Theology collection only, with Philosophy collection remaining at Stonyhurst)
- 1926-1970 Heythrop Hall, Oxfordshire (all collections united again),
- 1970-1993 Heythrop College, Cavendish Square, London
- 1993-2018 Heythrop College, Kensington Square, London
- 2018-2025 London Jesuit Centre, Mayfair (materials also available through Senate House), ca. 700+ older and rare books at Campion Hall Library, Oxford.
- Since April 2025 London Jesuit Centre, Mayfair and 700+ books at Campion Hall Library, Oxford only.
You can also watch an online presentation on Jesuit Libraries, presented in May 2026, as part of ABTAPL’s “Libraries of Faith”:
https://www.abtapl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Libraries-of-Faith-Jesuit-Libraries.mp4
This presentation covers primarily the Heythrop Library, and the Campion Hall Library.