“The Most Dangerous Man in England”
“The Most Dangerous Man in England”
Newman and the Laity
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Winner of the ACP 2026 Excellence in Publishing Award for Biography (3rd Place)
CMA 2026 Book Award for Biography (Honorable Mention)
Once described by the papal chamberlain George Talbot as “the most dangerous man in England,” John Henry Newman held bold views on the laity that challenged the ecclesial status quo of his day. But what exactly made his ideas so provocative? And what relevance do they have today?
In “The Most Dangerous Man in England”: Newman and the Laity, Paul Shrimpton examines Newman’s revolutionary perspective on the laity’s role in the Church and in the world. More than just an analysis of Newman’s writings, this work tells the story of the great saint’s dealings with lay men and women throughout his long and eventful life, revealing Newman’s lively insights, genius for friendship, and deep humanity. Shrimpton traces Newman’s journey from his influential years at Oxford to his leadership at the Birmingham Oratory, from the founding of the Catholic University in Ireland to his controversial efforts to establish a “Catholic Eton,” a boys’ school attached to the Birmingham Oratory. Through these episodes, Newman emerges as an example to pastors for how to work with and for the laity, as well as an example to laypeople for how to carry out a Christian apostolate through friendship. Shrimpton also shows how Newman’s emphasis on education for laypeople and the universal call to holiness anticipates the teachings of Vatican II by well over a century.
The whole Church, pastors and laity, should take note of the words and works of this great modern intellectual and Christian humanist. Newman’s vision has the potential to revitalize and empower every man and woman to embrace their mission to sanctify the world.
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What People are Saying
“A meticulously researched and important contribution to the body of Newman studies. Shrimpton guides us through a thorough exploration of that very rich and innovative body of reflection and experience that Newman brought to the challenge of equipping the laity for mission in the modern world. The author sheds light on an array of unique paths that Newman can open up for evolving discussions of laity, mission, and spirituality in our current context.”
—Daniel M. Cere, Associate Professor of Religion, Law, and Public Policy, McGill University
“This wonderful book is an immediate classic of Newman studies, due to its superb exposition of aspects of Newman’s life previously absent from (or relatively neglected by) scholarship. The final three chapters then apply the lessons of Newman’s life and thought to the Church since Newman’s death. The result is further confirmation, if any were needed, of Newman’s stature as a modern-day Doctor of the Church. Newman’s theological and pastoral importance only grows with each passing year.”
—Matthew Levering, James N. Jr. and Mary D. Perry Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary
“Shrimpton’s meticulously researched and elegantly written book serves three audiences: Newman specialists, lay Catholics, and the wider Church reflecting on the role of the laity. Shrimpton skillfully lets Newman’s life and thoughts illuminate this most pressing question: What is the role of the laity? This is an erudite and genuinely original contribution to the literature.”
—Gavin D’Costa, Professor of Theology, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas; Emeritus Professor of Catholic Theology, University of Bristol