In 1824 took Anglican orders and became curate of St. Clements, Oxford.
In 1828 was appointed vicar of St. Mary the Virgin, Oxford, with the outlying chaplaincy of Littlemore.
In 1832 finished History of the Arians and went abroad. Made acquaintance with Dr. Wiseman in Rome; seized with fever in Sicily, but said, "I shall not die—I have a work to do in England"; returning homewards in an orange-boat bound for Marseilles, and within sight of Garibaldi's home at Caprera, wrote "Lead, Kindly Light."
On July 13, 1833, the Sunday after his return home, the Oxford movement was begun by Keble's sermon on National Apostasy. The issue of Tracts for the Times immediately followed; and in 1843 Mr. Newman published a volume of Parochial Sermons, to be followed by University Sermons and Sermons on Holy Days.
In 1841 the Vice-Chancellor and heads of houses at Oxford censured Mr. Newman's Tract XC.
In 1843 he resigned St. Mary's.
On October 9, 1845, was received into the Catholic Church at Littlemore by Father Dominic.
On November 1, 1845, was confirmed at Oscott by Cardinal Wiseman.
On October 28, 1846, arrived in Rome, and, after a short period of study, was ordained priest.
On Christmas Eve, 1847, he returned to England from Rome, to found the community of St. Philip de Neri.