Founding of Villanova University by the Augustinian order
- When
- 1841–1845
- Where
- Villanova, Pennsylvania; Radnor Township
- Episodes
- 4
Villanova University was founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The institution traces its roots to Saint Augustine's Church in Philadelphia, established in 1796, and its parish school, Saint Augustine's Academy, established in 1811. The Augustinian College of Villanova opened in 1842, named after Saint Thomas of Villanova. Financial difficulties caused by the 1844 Philadelphia Nativist Riots led to the college's closure in February 1845.
Episodes
- Purchase of Land in Radnor Township
Two Irish Augustinian friars purchased 200 acres in Radnor Township in October 1841.
- Opening of the Augustinian College of Villanova
The Augustinian College of Villanova opened in 1842, named after Saint Thomas of Villanova.
- Dedication of the Chapel
Bishop Francis Kenrick dedicated the chapel in 1844.
- Closure Due to Nativist Riots
The college closed in February 1845 due to financial difficulties caused by the 1844 Philadelphia Nativist Riots.
Background and detail
Background. Villanova University is a private Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842 and named after Saint Thomas of Villanova. The university traces its roots to Saint Augustine's Church in Philadelphia, founded in 1796 by Augustinian friar Matthew Carr, and to its parish school, Saint Augustine's Academy, established in 1811.
Founding. The Augustinian College of Villanova opened in 1842. In October 1841, two Irish Augustinian friars from St. Augustine's Church in Philadelphia purchased 200 acres in Radnor Township. Bishop Francis Kenrick dedicated the chapel in 1844. The university is the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania and one of two Augustinian institutions of higher learning in the United States.
Closure. The Philadelphia Nativist Riots of 1844 burned Saint Augustine's Church in Philadelphia, causing financial difficulties for the Augustinians. Consequently, the college was closed in February 1845. The friars later had the 'Sister Bell' recast and transferred to Villanova University.
People involved
- Matthew Carr · Augustinian friar who founded Saint Augustine's Church in Philadelphia in 1796
- Bishop Francis Kenrick · Dedicated the chapel in 1844
- Irish Augustinian friars · Purchased land in Radnor Township in October 1841
Sources
- Villanova University Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-30
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.