Salford Office for Liturgy

The following is an extract of English Saints included in the Roman Martyrology (Second Edition 2004). These may be celebrated liturgically when not impeded by another celebration.

4 May

Saint John Houghton, Saint Robert Lawrence, and Saint Augustine Webster, Carthusian Priors of London, Beauvale and Axholme, Saint Richard Reynolds of the Order of Saint Briget, and Blessed John Haile, parish priest of Isleworth: martyred at Tyburn under King Henry VIII in 1535. As they were led to execution,Thomas More, who had been in prison for a year already, was looking on with his daughter from his cell window.  "Look, Meg," he said, "these blessed Fathers be now as cheerfully going to their deaths as bridegrooms to their marriage!"

 

6 May

Saint Eadbert, bishop: successor of Saint Cuthbert at Lindisfarne, renowned for knowledge of the Scriptures and generous almsgiving. Died in 698.

 

Blessed Edward Jones and Blessed Anthony Middleton, priests and martyrs: executed in London in 1590.

 

7 May

Saint John of Beverley, bishop: first bishop of Hexham, then York, a great restorer of monastic life, who died in 721.

 

9 May

Blessed Thomas Pickering OSB, martyr: a simple and innocent monk, executed at Tyburn in 1679, a victim of the persecution instigated by Titus Oates.

 

11 May

Blessed John Rochester and Blessed James Walworth, priests and martyrs: Carthusians executed at York during the reign of King Henry VIII in 1537.

 

19 May

Saint Dunstan, bishop: first abbot of Glastonbury and later Archbishop of Canterbury. Died in 988.

 

Blessed Peter Wright, priest and martyr: a Jesuit executed at Tyburn in 1651.

 

22 May

Blessed John Forest, priest and martyr: a Franciscan burnt at the stake at Smithfield Market in 1538.

 

25 May

Saint Aldhelm, bishop: formerly abbot of Malmesbury, who died in 709.

 

27 May

Blessed Edmund Duke, Blessed Richard Hill, Blessed John Hogg and Blessed Richard Holiday, priests and martyrs: four missionary priests executed at Dryburne near Durham in 1590.

 

28 May

Blessed Lanfranc, bishop: formerly abbot of Bec in Normandy, where he defended the true nature of the Eucharist in disputation with Berengar, became Archbishop of Canterbury where he died in 1089

 

Blessed Margaret Pole, mother and martyr: the mother of Cardinal Reginald Pole, who was beheaded in the Tower in 1541 after speaking against the divorce of King Henry VIII.

 

29 May

Blessed Richard Thirkeld, priest and martyr: executed at York in 1583 after ministry as a priest during which time he reconciled many to the Catholic Faith.

 

30 May

Saint Luke Kirby, Blessed William Filby, Blessed Lawrence Johnson, Blessed Thomas Cottam SJ, priests and martyrs: all executed at Tyburn in 1582.

 

Blessed William Scott OSB and Blessed Richard Newport, priests and martyrs: martyred on the same day 30 years later, under King James I (1612).

 

31 May

Blessed Richard Thorpe, priest, and Blessed Thomas Watkinson, martyrs: Richard was executed for being a priest, and Thomas, the father of a family, was executed for sheltering priests. They died together in 1591.

 

1 June       

Saint Wistan, King and Martyr: a devout and religious person, he became King of Mercia in 840, but was killed in 849 by Bertwulf, a pretender to the throne, when he objected to an incestuous marriage.

 

Blessed John Storey, Martyr: a lawyer executed at Tyburn in 1571 after imprisonment and exile could not turn him from his fidelity to the Roman Pontiff.

 

3 June

Blessed Francis Ingleby, Priest and Martyr: a former student of the English College in Rheims, he was executed at York in 1580 for being a priest.

 

6 June

Blessed William Greenwood, martyr: a Carthusian from the London Charterhouse, he died in prison in London under King Henry VIII in 1537.

 

7 June

Saint Robert of Newminster, abbot: a Cistercian devoted to prayer and poverty, who founded the Abbey at Newminster near Morpeth in Northumbria in 1138; he died in 1159. It was Saint Robert who sent monks from Newminster to found Sawley Abbey to the north of the Diocese in 1147.

 

8 June

Saint William Fitzherbert, Bishop: See the Ordo

 

Blessed John Davy, deacon: a Carthusian from the London Charterhouse, who died in prison under Henry VIII in 1537.

 

9 June

Blessed Robert Salt, martyr: another of the London Carthusians, who died of starvation in Newgate Prison under Henry VIII in 1537.

 

10 June

Blessed Thomas Green, Priest, and Blessed Walter Pierson, martyrs: more of the Carthusians from the London Charterhouse executed under Henry VIII in 1537.

 

15 June

Blessed Thomas Scryven, martyr: another of the Carthusians from the London Charterhouse executed under Henry VIII in 1537.

 

Blessed Peter Snow, priest and Blessed Ralph Grimston, martyrs: executed at York in 1598, Peter for being a priest and Ralph for harbouring him.

 

16 June

Blessed Thomas Reding, martyr: one of the Carthusians from the London Charterhouse executed under Henry VIII in 1537.

 

19 June

Blessed Sebastian Newdigate, Blessed Humphrey Middlemore and Blessed William Exmew, martyrs: others of the Carthusians from the London Charterhouse executed under Henry VIII; after seventeen days suspended in irons they were killed at Tyburn in 1537.

 

Blessed Thomas Woodhouse, SJ, priest and martyr: ordained under Queen Mary, and the arrested and imprisoned for twelve years under Elizabeth I, during which time he ministered to those in prison with him. He was executed at Tyburn in 1573.

 

20 June

Blessed Thomas Whitbread, Blessed William Harcourt, Blessed John Fenwich, Blessed John Gavan and Blessed Anthony Turner, priests and martyrs: Jesuits falsely accused of the so-called “Popish Plot” to assassinate King Charles II and executed at Tyburn in 1679 in the hysterical pursuit of Catholics instigated by Titus Oates.

 

21 June

Saint John Rigby, martyr. Born at Eccleston, near Chorley. Compelled to confess his Catholicism when appearing on behalf of a member of the Huddleston family, he was arrested, imprisoned and hanged, drawn and quartered at St Thomas Waterings, Southwark under Elizabeth II in 1600.

 

22 June

Saint John Fisher, bishop, and Saint Thomas More, martyrs. See the Ordo

 

Saint Alban, martyr: Alban was an inhabitant of Verulamium who gave shelter to a priest being pursued; he received the faith, and exchanged clothes with the priest, being executed in his place around the year 287.

 

23 June

Saint Etheldreda (Audrey, Ediltrude), abbess: a member of the Royal family of Northumbria, who after two fruitless marriages during which she preserved her virginity, received the veil from her uncle Saint Wilfred and founded the Abbey of Ely, dying there in 679.

 

Saint Thomas Garnet SJ, priest and martyr: a student of the English College in Valladolid who was twice arrested and imprisoned on his return; he was executed under James I in 1608.

 

28 June

Saint John Southworth, priest and martyr. See the Ordo

 

30 June

Blessed Philip Powell, OSB, priest and martyr: a Welsh lawyer who became a Benedictine; after twenty years of ministry, he was arrested on board ship, and executed for being a priest at Tyburn in 1646.

 

1 July

Blessed George Beesley and Blessed Montford Scott, priests and martyrs: executed in London after severe torture during the reign of Elizabeth I in 1591.

 

Blessed Thomas Maxfield, priest and martyr: a priest who was martyred at Tyburn during the reign of James I in 1616.

 

Saint Oliver Plunkett, bishop and martyr: see Ordo

 

2 July

Saint Swithin, bishop: bishop of Winchester, who was renowned for his austerity and care for the poor, founding many churches in his Diocese which he visited on foot. He died in 862.

 

4 July

Blessed John Cornelius, priest, Blessed Thomas Bosgrave, Blessed John Carey and Blessed Patrick Salmon, laymen, martyrs: executed together at Dorchester in 1594: John, who trained for the priesthood at Douai and Rome, was arrested in April; his companions were arrested for assisting him. John became a Jesuit while imprisoned in London.

 

Blessed William Andleby, priest, Blessed Henry Abbot, Blessed Thomas Warcop and Blessed Edward Fulthorp, laymen, martyrs: a priest who served in Yorkshire, and three laymen who assisted and sheltered him, executed together at York in 1597 under Elizabeth I.

 

5 July

Blessed George Nichols, Blessed Richard Yaxley, priests, Blessed Thomas Belson and Blessed Humphrey Pritchard, laymen, martyrs: executed at Oxford in 1589 for being priests and for sheltering priests; Thomas Belson was preparing to enter the priesthood at the time of his arrest.

 

6 July

Saint Thomas More, martyr: the date of the death of Saint Thomas More, who is commemorated with Saint John Fisher on 22 June.

 

Blessed Thomas Alfield, priest and martyr: having been ordained priest and returned to work in England, Thomas abjured his Catholic faith after arrest and imprisonment; reconciled to the Church after his release, he returned to England where he was arrested and executed at Tyburn in 1585.

 

7 July

Saint Hedda, bishop: became bishop of the West Saxons in 676, translating the relics of Saint Birinus, founder of the See, from Dorchester-on-Thames to the new seat of the diocese, Winchester. He died in 705.

 

Blessed Roger Dickinson, priest, Blessed Ralph Milner, layman, Blessed Laurence Humphrey, martyrs: martyrs executed at Winchester on this day in 1591 under Elizabeth I; Ralph, a farmer and father of a family was rich in faith, was arrested and executed together with Roger; Laurence is commemorated on this day because the exact date of his death is uncertain.

 

9 July

Blessed Adrian Fortescue, martyr: Sir Adrian Fortescue was a cultured, faithful country gentleman in the reign of Henry VIII, who fell foul of the King and was twice arrested, and beheaded in 1539 because of his “adherence to the Bishop of Rome”.

 

11 July

Blessed Thomas Benstead and Blessed Thomas Sprott, priests and martyr:  since the exact date of their death is unknown, these two priests who were martyred at Lincoln under Elizabeth I in July 1600 are remembered today.

 

12 July

Blessed David Gunston, martyr: a Knight of Saint John of Jerusalem, who was executed by Henry VIII at Southwark in 1541.

 

Saint John Jones, OFM, priest and martyr: born in Wales, John travelled to France to become a Franciscan, and from there to Rome, whence he returned to work on the English Mission; he was arrested in 1596 and executed at Saint Thomas’ Watering in London in 1598.

 

13 July

Blessed Thomas Tunstal, OSB, priest and martyr: arrested for being a priest, and executed under James I at Norwich in 1616.

 

14 July

Blessed Richard Langhorne, martyr: a lawyer who was falsely accused of conspiracy and executed at Tyburn under Charles II in 1679.

 

16 July

Blessed John Sugar, priest and Blessed Robert Grissold, martyrs: condemned under James I, John for being a priest and Robert for sheltering him, they were executed together at Warwick in 1604.

 

17 July

Saint Kenelm: the son of Kenulph, King of Mercia, buried at Winchcombe in Gloucestershire, who was killed in the year 812 and is considered a martyr.

 

19 July

Saint John Plessington, priest and martyr: see Ordo

 

24 July

Blessed Nicholas Garlick, Blessed Robert Ludlam and Blessed Richard Simpson, priests and martyrs: these three priests worked in Derbyshire before their arrest; they were held in Derby gaol before their execution under Elizabeth I in 1588.

 

Blessed Joseph Lambton, priest and martyr: a student of the Colleges in Rheims and Rome, he was ordained at the age of twenty three, but was arrested on landing at Newcastle-on-Tyne; he was hanged, drawn and quartered in1592.

 

Saint John Boste, priest and martyr: a native of Westmoreland, he was ordained at Rheims, and worked in the North East, before being arrested and executed at Durham in 1594.

 

26 July

Blessed John Ingram, priest and martyr: ordained at Saint John Lateran in Rome, and worked first in Scotland. He was arrested after entering England, and, after being tried with Fr John Boste (24 July) was executed at Gateshead in 1594.

 

Blessed George Swallowell, martyr: a Protestant minister who was reconciled to the Church and subsequently arrested, being executed under Elizabeth I at Darlington in 1594.

 

Blessed Edward Thwing, OP, and Blessed Robert Nutter, priests and martyrs: Edward and Robert were captured on arrival in England, but escaped and laboured for three years; arrested again in 1600, they were executed at Lancaster.

 

Blessed William Webster, priest and martyr: after ordination in his forties, William worked in London in comparative freedom, especially as a confessor in London’s gaols, until priests were once more banished by Parliamentary Decree in 1641; he was arrested, tried at the Old Bailey, and executed at Tyburn in the same year.

 

27 July

Blessed Robert Sutton, priest and martyr: a native of Burton-on-Trent, who was martyred at Stafford in 1587 under Elizabeth I for being a priest.

 

30 July

Blessed Edward Powell, Blessed Richard Featherstone and Blessed Thomas Abel, priests and martyrs: priests who refused to comply with the wishes of Henry VIII, who were imprisoned in the Tower and executed at Smithfield in 1540.

 

31 July

Blessed Everard Hanse, priest and martyr: formerly an Anglican minister, Everard only enjoyed a very brief ministry after his ordination in 1580: shortly after his return to England, he was arrested at Marshalsea Gaol and accused of treason; he was executed at Tyburn in 1581.

1 August

Saint Ethelwold, bishop: a pupil of Saint Dunstan, and bishop of Winchester, who restored monastic life in his Diocese, translating the “Concordia Regularis” and earning the epithet “Father of Monks”. He died in 984.

 

Blessed Thomas Welbourne, martyr: a schoolteacher who was martyred at York during the reign of King James I in 1605.

 

4 August

Blessed William Horne, martyr: a Carthusian monk executed by King Henry VIII at Tyburn in 1540.

 

5 August

Saint Oswald, martyr: King of Northumbria, who worked to spread Christianity in Britain, and who was killed in battle with pagans near Oswestry in 642.

 

7 August

Blessed John Woodcock (Martin of Saint Felix) OFM, Blessed Edward Bamber and Blessed Thonas Whitaker, priests and martyrs: some of the Lancashire Martyrs, executed at Lancaster in 1646 under King Charles II.

 

Blessed Nicholas Postgate, priest and martyr: a priest who spent fifty years walking the Yorkshire Moors, ministering to scattered Catholics, who was eventually arrested and executed at York under King Charles II in 1679 at the age of about 80.

 

8 August

Blessed John Felton, martyr: executed in London in 1570 after publicly supporting Pope Saint Pius the Fifth’s excommunication of Queen Elizabeth I.

 

Blessed John Fingley, priest and martyr and Blessed Robert Bickerdike, martyr: executed under Queen Elizabeth I at York in 1586.

 

9 August

Blessed Richard Bere, priest and martyr: a Carthusian executed by order of King Henry VIII in 1537 for fidelity to the Roman Pontiff and defence of Christian marriage.

 

11 August

Blessed John Sandys and Blessed Stephen Rowsham, priests and martyrs; Blessed William Lampley, martyr: executed at Gloucester under Queen Elizabeth I in 1586, 1587 and 1588 respectively.