William Francis Barry

William Francis Barry (21 April 1849 – 15 December 1930) was a British Catholic priest, theologian, educator and writer. He served as vice president and professor of philosophy at Birmingham Theological College from 1873 to 1877 and then professor of divinity at Oscott College from 1877 to 1880. A distinguished ecclesiastic, Barry gave lectures in both Great Britain and the United States during the 1890s. He was also a popular author and novelist at the start of the 20th century, whose books usually dealt with then controversial religious and social questions, and is credited as the creator of the modern English Catholic novel.

Biography

William Francis Barry was born in London, England, to Irish Catholic parents (from Liscarroll, Co. Cork) on 21 April 1849. He was educated at Hammersmith Training School, Sedgeley Park School and Oscott College prior to attending the English College and the Gregorian University in Rome in 1868. Barry was seventh in honors at his matriculation at London University, and a scholar of the English College de Urbe. He also became exceptionally knowledgeable in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Gaelic, Greek, and Latin languages and literature. His first novel, The New Antigone (1887), included concepts involving socialism, atheism, freethought, sexual openness, and rights for women. Barry also wrote a number of articles for the Catholic Encyclopedia. In 1923, he was created a Notary Apostolic by Pope Pius XI. Barry wrote his autobiography, Memories and Opinions (1926), three years later.

After living at Leamington for a time as rector of St. Peter's, he moved back to Oxford in 1928; he died there on 15 December 1930, at the age of 81.