THE P RTAL
August 2014
Page 3
Portal Editorial
Will Burton
Stratford Caldecott RIP
The Portal marks the passing of a
real hero of the Catholic Faith
I
t was
in August 2013 that The Portal carried
an interview that Jackie Ottaway conducted with the
Caldecott family. Re-reading it, it is still inspirational.
What a family they are; real heroes of the Catholic
Faith.
Stratford grew up in London; he went on to study
philosophy at Hertford College, Oxford. It was here
that he met Leonie. Fr Charles Smith married the
couple at Saint Mary Magdalene’s in Oxford, and
before long three lovely daughters came along: Sophie,
Rosie and Tessa.
Fr Luigi Giussani …
was a great influence on him
Literature was always in Stratford’s blood. He worked
in a bookshop before getting a job in publishing.
Eventually he went to the U.S.A., working in Boston. It
was here that he met Fr Luigi Giussani, who was a great
influence on him, as John Henry Newman had been
an influence on Giussani. In Boston they encountered
the Communion and Liberation Group. This was a
movement started in Milan as a response to the loss of
faith among students.
the Centre for Faith and Culture
Returning to the UK, the Caldecotts started the
Centre for Faith and Culture in Oxford. At first it
was housed at the Methodist Westminster College.
Although it was staunchly Catholic, it was assisted by
the Methodists. After moving several times, it settled
at its present location.
Helped by daughter Tessa, the family brought
Magnificat to the UK from its origins in France. They
edit the UK edition of Magnificat and are the agents
in the UK for Second Spring Oxford Ltd which is a
cultural review printed [