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Frank Sheed

Australian-British Catholic lawyer, apologist, and publisher (1897–1981)

Francis Joseph Sheed (20 March 1897 – 20 November 1981) was an Australian-born lawyer, Catholic writer, publisher, speaker, and lay theologian. He and his wife Maisie Ward were the names behind the imprint Sheed & Ward and as forceful public lecturers in the Catholic Evidence Guild.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Frank Sheed (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Mar 20, 1897, died Nov 20, 1981.1

Companies

Early life and education

Early life

Sheed was born in Sydney on 20 March 1897 to John Sheed, a descendant of Scottish Presbyterians, and English-born Mary Maloney. His mother's family were Irish Catholic. Baptized Catholic, at the insistence of their father, Frank Sheed and his brother Jack were raised Protestant. Frank attended a Methodist church but surreptitiously made his Catholic First Holy Communion and Confirmation. He attended Sydney Boys’ High School and in 1917 obtained a B.A. from the University of Sydney.

From Wikipedia’s article on Frank Sheed (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: Catholic theologian, publisher, writer.4

Catholic Evidence Guild

In 1920, Sheed travelled to London, where he encountered the Catholic Evidence Guild whose lay Catholics expounded the faith. He joined the group and became an effective soapbox orator. With an understanding of Protestant attitudes toward Catholicism, Sheed took up writing and speaking on the subject of Catholic apologetics, the rational defense of the Catholic faith. Through his activity with the Guild he met Maisie Ward, daughter of Wilfrid Ward, a prominent Catholic essayist and biographer.

From Wikipedia’s article on Frank Sheed (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornMar 20, 1897, Sydney5
  • DiedNov 20, 1981, Jersey City6
  • CitizenshipAustralia7
  • SpouseMaisie Ward8

Sources

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