Christopher Grene facts for kids

Christopher Grene (1629–1697) was a Jesuit priest and an important historian. He spent his life dedicated to his religious work and to collecting valuable historical records.

Christopher Grene was born in 1629 in Kilkenny, Ireland. His parents, George Grene and Jane Tempest, were from England. They had moved to Ireland because of difficult times for Catholics in England, a period known as the persecution.

Early Life and Education

Christopher Grene began his schooling in Ireland. In 1642, when he was about 13, he went to a special school for English Jesuits in Liège, which is now in Belgium. He studied there for five years.

After that, in 1647, he moved to the English College at Rome to continue his studies. He became a priest in 1653. The next year, in 1654, he returned to England.

Joining the Jesuits

On September 7, 1658, Christopher Grene officially joined the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. This is a religious order within the Catholic Church. By 1669, he became a full member, taking special vows.

He later worked as an English penitentiary (a priest who hears confessions and gives spiritual guidance) in Loreto and then at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. In 1692, he became a spiritual director at the English College in Rome. He passed away there on November 11, 1697.

A Historian's Legacy

Christopher Grene made a huge contribution to history. He spent a lot of time gathering important documents and stories. He focused on the lives of English Catholic martyrs. These were people who died for their faith during the time of persecution in England.

His work helped to preserve the history of this difficult period. He collected many scattered records and manuscripts. These collections are still valuable today for historians.

Some of his important writings and collections are kept in places like Stonyhurst College, Oscott College, and the archives of the Archdiocese of Westminster.