The widely acclaimed English historian and pro-life campaigner Jack Scarisbrick has died at the age of 97. The devout Catholic and Henry VIII scholar passed away on Feb. 28.
Zoe’s Place, the U.K. children’s hospice he founded, announced his passing: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our founder, Professor J.J. Scarisbrick. Jack passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by his daughters and grandchildren, bringing comfort to his family in his final moments.”
Contribution to Catholic revisionism ‘what I’m most proud of’
John Joseph Scarisbrick was the last of five children and was born in London on Oct. 6, 1928. He attended St. John Fisher Grammar School in Purley, South London, spent two years in the Royal Air Force, and then went on to study history at Christ’s College, Cambridge, under the tutelage of the Benedictine academic Dom David Knowles.
He completed his doctorate in 1955 and was commissioned in 1960 to write the biography of King Henry VIII, which was published eight years later and is still regarded today as the definitive biography of one of the most famous monarchs of all time.
“It is the magisterial quality of J.J. Scarisbrick’s work that has enabled it to hold the field for so long,” Steve Gunn of the Times Literary Supplement said.
In an interview with the Catholic Herald in December 2000, Scarisbrick said it wasn’t this biography that he was most proud of but his contribution to Catholic revisionism — an intellectual movement that challenged the common understanding of the Reformation.
“That’s what I am most proud of really, is being part of that,” Scarisbrick said. “I think, if I might say so, it was the first bit of Catholic revisionism that contested the notion that the whole Church had been sinking ever deeper into corruption … I would take the view that there was no sign of total Church corruption. But there were of course serious weaknesses. The Church is always corrupt, always failing, because it is made up of human beings.”
Commitment to life
Aside from his outstanding academic success, Scarisbrick, along with his late wife, Nuala, made a huge impact on the pro-life movement in England and Wales following the legalization of abortion in 1967. Jack and Nuala’s passionate commitment to upholding the dignity of life resulted in them establishing the pregnancy crisis charity called Life in 1970, along with three hospices for children with disabilities in Liverpool Coventry and Middlesborough.
Scarisbrick received an MBE (member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s 2015 New Years Honours list for the work of Zoe’s Place, and he was also made a knight of the Papal Order of St. Sylvester by Pope John Paul II in 1993 in recognition of the work of Life. Nuala was made a dame of the same order.
According to a tribute to Scarisbrick published on Life’s website, Scarisbrick explained his personal reasons for founding Life as follows: “I think it was becoming a father and realizing that … that child had been a reality, a human being, for nine months before I actually held it in my arms. It was the enormity of distinguishing between born life and unborn life.
“Secondly, we had a pregnancy that — alas — failed, miscarried. But it came very soon after our first child was born. We were due to go to a teaching post in America. And all these plans [were] in turmoil when we discovered [that Nuala was pregnant].
“And I realized how easy it was to panic … All sensible people were saying we could just quietly get rid of it … I could understand therefore why the crisis pregnancy is such a real crisis.”
As well as providing housing for women facing crisis pregnancies through their charity Life, the Scarisbricks welcomed women facing crisis pregnancies into their family home in Leamington Spa, England. At one point there were five pregnant women living under their roof. Jack and Nuala personally housed 30 expectant mothers in total.
Following the death of Scarisbrick, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales released a statement on March 3 saying: “Professor Scarisbrick was one of the foremost campaigners for the life of the unborn following the passing of the 1967 Abortion Act. Jack and his late wife, Nuala, founded the charity ‘Life.’ They knew that it was not only necessary to make the case against abortion but also to provide practical help to women who were finding it difficult to cope with their pregnancies. Jack did both of these things valiantly and with great skill. Nearly 60 years later, Life is still fulfilling this vital role of assisting women who are carrying a baby and need support.”
The statement continued: “Professor Scarisbrick was a serious academic whose work was of profound importance. It is remarkable that somebody could make such an impact in so many spheres.”
