Martyrs of England 1895

This group of nine martyrs is composed of figures from different backgrounds of 16th-century English society, united by their ultimate testimony:

1. The Martyrs of Glastonbury: - Richard Whiting: Last abbot of the prestigious Benedictine abbey of Glastonbury. Born around 1460, he made his monastery a renowned center of piety and education. - John Thorne: Benedictine monk and treasurer of Glastonbury Abbey. - Roger James: Benedictine monk and sacristan of the same abbey. All three refused to hand over the sacred treasures of their abbey to the royal commissioners of Henry VIII and to renounce papal authority.

2. The Martyrs of Reading: - Hugh Faringdon (or Cook): Last abbot of the Benedictine abbey of Reading. Initially close to King Henry VIII, he ultimately refused to take the oath of royal supremacy. - John Eynon: Priest and Benedictine monk of Reading, pastor of St. Giles parish. - John Rugg (or Rugge): Priest and prebendary of Chichester, retired to Reading Abbey. They firmly opposed the king's spiritual claims over the Church of England.

3. The Martyr of Colchester: - John Beche (Thomas Marshall): Last abbot of the Benedictine abbey of St. John in Colchester. A close friend of Saint Thomas More and Saint John Fisher, he publicly denounced their execution and opposed the confiscation of his monastery.

4. Blessed Adrian Fortescue: - Knight of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (Malta) and Dominican tertiary. A cousin of Anne Boleyn, this father and justice of the peace was arrested and condemned without trial for opposing the religious reforms of Henry VIII.

5. Blessed Thomas Percy: - 7th Earl of Northumberland. This lay nobleman led the "Rising of the North" in 1569 to attempt to restore Catholic worship under the reign of Elizabeth I. Captured and imprisoned, he refused to abjure his faith in exchange for his life.

The path of these martyrs to holiness was sealed in the blood of their execution.

In 1539, the policy of the dissolution of the monasteries, led by Thomas Cromwell on behalf of Henry VIII, reached its climax. Abbots Richard Whiting, Hugh Faringdon, and John Beche, along with their companions, were arrested on charges of high treason. Subjected to mock trials, they were sentenced to death. The clergymen suffered the terrible punishment reserved for traitors: they were dragged on hurdles, hanged, disemboweled while still alive, and quartered.

- Adrian Fortescue was beheaded at Tower Hill (London) on July 9, 1539. - Hugh Faringdon, John Eynon, and John Rugg were executed at Reading on November 14 or 15, 1539. - Richard Whiting, John Thorne, and Roger James were executed at the summit of Glastonbury Tor on November 15, 1539. - John Beche was executed at Colchester on December 1, 1539. - Thomas Percy, after two and a half years of captivity, was beheaded at York on August 22, 1572, affirming his loyalty to the Pope until the end.

The cause of these martyrs was officially introduced in the 19th century following historical research conducted on anti-Catholic persecutions in England.

- Beatification: The group of nine martyrs was officially beatified by Pope Leo XIII on May 13, 1895, in Rome. This recognition followed an initial series of beatifications of English martyrs pronounced in 1886. - Canonization: To this day, these nine martyrs have not been canonized and retain the status of blessed within the Catholic Church. - Liturgical feast: They are celebrated collectively on May 4, the feast day of all the martyrs of England and Wales. They are also commemorated individually or in subgroups on the anniversary of their death (July 9 for Adrian Fortescue, August 22 for Thomas Percy, November 14 for the martyrs of Reading, November 15 for the martyrs of Glastonbury, and December 1 for John Beche).

The spirituality of these nine martyrs rests upon an absolute fidelity to the universal Church and to the primacy of the Apostolic See, perceived as the guarantor of the truth of the faith in the face of the demands of the State. Their sacrifice also bears witness to the freedom of conscience in the face of political tyranny.

Today, their memory is particularly alive in England: - The diocesan shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury commemorates Abbot Richard Whiting and his companions each year. - The restored Reading Abbey and its gateway bear the memory of Hugh Faringdon. - The Order of Malta particularly venerates Blessed Adrian Fortescue, whose name was given to the Grand Priory of England upon its restoration. - Blessed Thomas Percy remains a model of courage for Catholic laypeople, honored notably in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.