Catherine Bathurst

Sister Mary Catherine Philip (born Catherine Anne Bathurst; 14 July 1825 – 14 December 1907) was a Roman Catholic convert, nun and Prioress. She founded a school in Belgium which became (in time) St Dominic's Sixth Form College in Harrow.

Life Bathurst was born in Wookey in Somersetshire. She was the daughter of Sir James Bathurst, an army officer and Lady Caroline, a daughter of 1st Earl Castle Stewart. Her grandfather was Henry Bathurst, Bishop of Norwich who was a nephew of the 1st Earl Bathurst. Frederick Bathurst and Robert Bathurst (cricketer) were her brothers. Her eldest brother was Stuart Bathurst and he became a Church of England priest and rector of Kibworth Beauchamp in Leicestershire. In 1850 Stuart converted to Catholicism under the influence of John Henry Newman and he became the parish priest at Wednesbury in Staffordshire. Catherine also concerted to be a Catholic within months and she was given a Conditional baptism (to avoid giving two) by Father Brownbill SJ. She met Newman and she began a long time correspondence with him which consisted of over 80 letters. St Dominic's Sixth Form College opened in the building that had been St Dominic's Independent Grammar School for girls.