Durham University and the Roman Catholic Church are launching the first Centre for Catholic Studies at a secular UK university.The major sponsors of the Bede Chair are the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, the Sisters of Mercy (Oaklea, Sunderland), the Sisters of La Retraite (Britain and Ireland) and the Ballinger Trust.
Ampleforth Abbey, in North Yorkshire, is also contributing towards the funding for the centre.
The announcement follows the death on Saturday of Bishop Kevin Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, who had personally led the campaign to raise the money needed to establish the Chair.
A leading Roman Catholic scholar is now being sought to become the first holder of the Bede Chair of Catholic Theology, and will act as the intellectual figurehead of the centre.
Centre director Dr Paul Murray said: "We are immensely grateful to all our partners who have made this possible and our thoughts are particularly with Bishop Kevin Dunn and his family and friends at this very sad time.
"These developments act as a measure of the way in which the UK has become a real centre for world-class Catholic theology.
"They provide a secure, long-term platform for the continued flourishing of such theology into the future."
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