The Chesterton Institute Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

May 29 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of writer and Catholic apologist, G.K. Chesterton. Coinciding with this important milestone, the University is pleased to announce the launch of a specially dedicated webpage marking the 50th anniversary of the G.K. Chesterton Institute for Faith & Culture, which moved to Seton Hall in 1999. To visit the anniversary webpage please click here.

Founded in 1974 in Canada by Father Ian Boyd, C. S. B. (RIP), the Institute’s purpose is to promote the thought of G. K. Chesterton and his circle and, more broadly, to explore the application of Chestertonian ideas in the contemporary world. The Institute’s work consists of conferences, lecture series, research and writing.

About G.K. Chesterton
Born in 1874, G. K. Chesterton was a beloved and prolific English writer. His diverse works include philosophy, poetry, plays, journalism, public lectures, literary and art criticism and fiction. He has been called “the price of paradox.” Chesterton’s ability to write about serious subjects in a style accessible to the ordinary reader made him one of the most widely read figures in twentieth-century literature.

Chesterton’s thought and philosophy of life are of particular importance to those who value the sacramental tradition, Catholic social teaching and Christian spirituality. His works have been translated into many languages. And, because his writings are the subject of study by students and scholars, they continue to reach new generations of readers.

“Father Boyd recognized the gift that Chesterton was to the world with his unique combination of deeply grounded common sense, panoramic perspective and resolute faith,” explains Patrick Manning, director of the Center for Catholic Studies. “The world is more in need of these gifts than ever, and so this year we will be creating opportunities to extend Chesterton's thought to an ever-wider audience.”

The vision of the Institute is to raise awareness of what is already present in the life’s work of G.K. Chesterton. The work being done at Seton Hall and by contributors around the world has had a key role in the writer’s revival internationally. Chesterton is being rediscovered and introduced to new generations everywhere. Through lectures, conferences and publications Seton Hall is at the center of this revival.

The effect of the work of the Institute is cumulative. It builds on the past and we think in terms of the future. Our work is immensely relevant for today and tomorrow.
-Father Ian Boyd, CSB, founder

For the last 25 years, G.K. Chesterton Institute has been based at Seton Hall University, and through the Institute’s extensive outreach, continues to impact the larger world.

About the Institute & Its journal

The Chesterton Review, founded in 1974, has been widely praised both for its scholarship and for the quality of its writing. The journal was founded by Father Ian Boyd, C. S. B., and is edited by Dr. Dermot Quinn. It includes a wide range of articles not only on Chesterton himself, but on the issues close to his heart in the work of other writers and in the modern world. It has devoted special issues to C. S. Lewis, George Bernanos, Hilaire Belloc, Maurice Baring, Christopher Dawson, Cardinal Manning, the Modernist Crisis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Fantasy Literature, Special Polish Issue, Special Charles Dickens issue, the most recent “Special Christopher Dawson Issue,” and many others.

To learn more about the G.K. Chesterton Institute for Faith & Culture, contact Gloria Garafulich-Grabois, director, at [email protected] or visit the institute's website. 

Categories: Arts and Culture, Faith and Service