[1] It is known for its 70,000 books and periodicals, and the broad range of subjects it covers.
[2] The collection started in 1912 in the porch of St Mary Magdalene's Church in Bexhill-on-Sea, from the private library of an American, Mr William Reed-Lewis.
It moved to Victoria, London in 1922 and was then established as the Catholic Central Library in 1936.
A campaign by some notable British Catholic writers and noblemen helped to keep the collection intact.
In 2007 the collection was rehoused at St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough, changed its name from Catholic Central Library to Catholic National Library, and was once again open to visitors.