A group of twenty-four members and their guests gathered for the Summer Outing on 30 June 2026 at St Mary’s University and Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham.
Canon Peter Newby, the University’s Chaplain, welcomed us to the Chapel for Mass, which was celebrated by the Society’s Chaplain, Fr Peter Harris, with organ accompaniment.
Following a convivial lunch in the student refectory, we made our way to the historic and richly decorated Waldegrave Suite. Fr Peter Harris gave us a first class and highly vivid survey of the history of the University and the adjoining Strawberry Hill House, which we had an opportunity to tour in the afternoon.
Established by Cardinal Wiseman in 1850 as a teacher training college, St Mary’s is now a University and is the oldest and largest Catholic educational establishment to hold this status in the United Kingdom.
Located in the University grounds, Strawberry Hill House is Britain’s finest example of Georgian Gothic Revival architecture. Designed and created in the 18th century by Horace Walpole, the House was leased in 2007 to the Strawberry Hill Trust, which has completed an extensive restoration and reopened it to the public.
The Society was delighted to hold this year’s Summer Outing in Twickenham. We were welcomed warmly, enjoyed fine weather, and benefited from the expertise of Fr Peter Harris and his decades-long association with the site and institution.
The Society of St Augustine of Canterbury 