Cecil Kerr

Cecil Chetwynd Kerr, Marchioness of Lothian (née Lady Cecil Chetwynd-Talbot; 17 April 1808 – 13 May 1877) was a British noblewoman and philanthropist who founded the Anglican Saint John's Church in Jedburgh and the Catholic Saint David's Church in Dalkeith. A follower of the Oxford Movement, she eventually converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism after she was widowed.

Life Kerr was born in the family seat of Ingestre Hall in Staffordshire. She was one of twelve children. Her parents were Frances Thomasine and Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 2nd Earl Talbot. She was the sixth child and her mother died shortly after the birth of the twelfth child. Her father took an interest in her education and ensured she was well-read and that she had an understanding of their religion.

Kerr married on 12 July 1831 and went to live in Scotland with her husband John Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian. Her favourite home was near Jedburgh at Monteviot House, but the family seat was Newbattle Abbey. Her husband died at another estate in Norfolk in 1841 after they had seven children. The followers were known as Tractarianists and her spiritual advisor John Henry Newman was a leading thinker in the group.

Kerr funded the creation of an Anglican church St John's in Jedburgh near Monteviot. The church was consecrated on 15 August 1843. The church was opened with invited speakers, a full choir and services that took several days. Two years later Newman became a Catholic and in 1851 Kerr under Henry Edward Manning's instruction also converted to Catholicism. and Margaret, countess of Newburgh who were both aristocratic Catholic converts.

Her children were now in jeopardy as discrimination under British law against Catholics was legally required. She was only one of the guardians of her children and the others were going to interfere as they were concerned that she may convert them. Kerr did in fact smuggle her children to Edinburgh where they were received into the Catholic faith. Her eldest son was away at Oxford University and he remained an Anglican.

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