WELCOME TO THE CATHOLIC G. K. CHESTERTON SOCIETY
PROMOTING THE WISDOM & SANCTITY OF THIS GREAT DEFENDER OF THE FAITH
UPCOMING EVENTS
JUNE 2026
Catholic Chesterton Society Conference
JULY 2026
16th Annual Chesterton Pilgrimage
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
- G. K. Chesterton
WHO IS CHESTERTON?
Gilbert Keith Chesterton was one of the most influential Catholic writers of the 20th Century, and his impact continues today.
Born in London in 1874, Chesterton was raised Anglican, studying at St Paul's School in Hammersmith, but became he more and more drawn to the Catholic Church. After attempting a career in art for a short time, he moved on to a new pursuit which would dominate the rest of his life; writing, and in particular, journalism.
Chesterton is probably most famous now for his series of 53 detective stories featuring Father Brown, but these are a microcosm of his literary output. Chesterton wrote novels, plays, philosophical books, biographies, political writings, and thousands upon thousands of essays on everything from Stilton Cheese to the Sun, from the Blessed Virgin Mary to Jane Austen, from charity to his own political theory, distributism.
Vital to all Chesterton's work was his beloved wife Frances, who countered his huge bulk of joy, common sense and terrible memory for anything on the day-to-day scale with a small and gentle practical strength.
Chesterton's writings reflect his larger-than-life personality, which was characterized by a love for his fellow men that never ceased to find something new about everyone and everything he engaged with, and a love of God that made him grateful for everything.
Chesterton was a virtuous Catholic and an ardent defender of The Faith. He has been responsible for hundreds of conversions to Catholicism.
WHO WE ARE
The Catholic G. K. Chesterton Society seeks to promote the writings, life, and spirituality of G. K. Chesterton, working hopefully towards a day when Chesterton will be recognized as a Catholic Saint. Here are some of the ways we do this:
PRAYER CARDS
As part of the society's mission of promoting the cause of G. K. Chesterton as a future saint, we spread the prayer for his canonization around to further devotion to this Christian hero. We have PDF copies of the prayer card in multiple languages available here.
PILGRIMAGE
For 15 years, the society has been organizing an annual pilgrimage from the site of Chesterton's baptism in Notting Hill to his grave in Beaconsfield. This is a great opportunity for prayer, exercise, companionship and conversation in the spirit of Chesterton!
CONFERENCE
A new, exciting way to celebrate the wisdom of Chesterton, and his incredible legacy!
More information coming soon...
The G. K. Chesterton Prayer
God Our Father, Thou didst fill the life of Thy servant Gilbert Keith Chesterton with a sense of wonder and joy, and gave him a faith which was the foundation of his ceaseless work, a charity towards all men, particularly his opponents, and a hope which sprang from his lifelong gratitude for the gift of human life. May his innocence and his laughter, his constancy in fighting for the Christian faith in a world losing belief, his lifelong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and his love for all men, especially for the poor, bring cheerfulness to those in despair, conviction and warmth to lukewarm believers and the knowledge of God to those without faith. We beg Thee to grant the favours we ask through his intercession, the end of abortion in this Country [and especially for……] so that his holiness may be recognized by all and the Church may proclaim him Blessed. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
