The History of Nutbourne House

The Beginning
Earliest records show the house and outbuildings were a farm and the chapel of the Nativity of Nutbourne was built in what was either a cow shed or one of the main barns. The farm house is a listed building and dates back to Georgian (1714-1830) although during the present renovation programme part of the house was found to be much older and probably of Tudor origin (16th Century). A very exciting find was that a medieval map, a cross within a hundred yards of the present building showed that there was a church on the site several hundred years ago. Our Lord's house has now been handed back to Him.

The Parish of St Richard acquired the house in the 1950's, built the chapel and rented flats in the house to young couples whilst they were saving to buy their own house. Once the then Parish Prist, Fr Langton Fox, left, the house was left empty and eventually, after becoming run down and derelict, was boarded up and declared unfit for human habitation much to the relief of the animal kingdom.

The Search
Joan and Michael Le Morvan had been searching for premises for a Bible School for some time, as the idea had been germinating from the summer of 1985. One day Joan was driving past Nutbourne House on the way to Mass and as she looked up she saw on the wall in large Roman letters, the words "Catholic Bible School". She could hardly believe what she saw and the car did a few violent manoeuvres! Could Our Lord really intend that His Bible School should be housed in that terrible old run down and derelict building? Well, apparently He did.

Just about everything that could be wrong existed in Nutbourne House and the task of refurbishing the property and making it habitable was daunting. With tremendous encouragement from our then Parish Priest, Canon Francis Collins, the property was bought from the Diocese by Michael and Joan in 1986. The Catholic Bible School was registered as a Charitable Trust - The Renata Trust (which means 'reborn' or ' new birth').

The first courses started in January 1988 - Scripture Studies for Beginners - and the Bible School was formally opened by Bishop Cormac in May 1988. The programme now is very full with a tremendous range of day and residential courses.

Catholic Bible School - Nutbourne House today (2004).