Born at Lewes, Sussex, Sept. 29, 1691: died at London, Jan. 12, 1781. An English Roman Catholic Divine, made bishop of Debra in 1740, and vicar apostolic of London in 1758. He was educated at the English College at Douai, and was professor of philosophy there 1713–20, and vice-president and professor of divinity 1720–30, returning to London in the latter year. He published a large number of polemical and theological works, including “The Rheims New Testament and the Douay Bible, with Annotations” (1749–50). His version of the Douay Bible is substantially that since used by English-speaking Catholics.

General

  Challoner published an English bible, being in some sense a new version, and differing considerably in its diction from that of the Rheims-Douay. Dr. Challoner’s version has been followed more than others by English-speaking Catholics since his day, and his influence upon the language of religion and devotion among Catholics has been accordingly very great. His influence in this respect has been still further increased by the great and continued popularity of his books on practical religion, such as “The Catholic Christian Instructed,” “Meditations,” and other devotional works, some of which have been circulated by millions. So familiar, indeed, is the language of Challoner to Catholic Christians generally, that whenever, in any diocese, the question arises as to which English version of the Vulgate shall be authorized for use in that diocese, the preference is given to Challoner’s, rather than to the Rheims-Douay, notwithstanding the traditional veneration to which the latter is held. This was the decision of the late Cardinal Wiseman, and has been that of most English-speaking Bishops of the Catholic Church for the last hundred years…. Dr. Challoner writes with great vigor and freshness of thought, and in a style remarkable for its sparkling clearness and the purity of his English.

  In history, we are indebted to Dr. Challoner for the valuable “Memoirs of Missionary Priests and other Catholics that have Suffered Death in England on Religious Accounts, from the Year 1577 to 1684.” He gives us an account of 180 martyrs who suffered during the reign of Elizabeth alone. The “Memoirs” are a monument of the accuracy, research, and moderation of their author. The style, suited to this kind of narrative, is simple and concise. Another important work of Dr. Challoner is his revision of the Rheims-Douay Bible, in which he substituted modern for antiquated terms. His revision is generally used by Catholics, but the admirers of the old Anglo-Saxon would willingly return to the earlier version.

  One of the most learned and best known English Catholic writers of the eighteenth century.

  Challoner inaugurated a new era in English catholic literature, and many of his publications are to this day regarded by his co-religionists as standard works of doctrine or devotion.