The Lancashire Martyrs

(Adapted from the leaflet 'The Martyrs of Lancaster' by Peter Williamson and Susan Anderson)

In 1534 King Henry VIII declared himself  'Supreme Head of the Church in England' after being excommunicated for divorcing his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.  This break was to be the start of several hundred years of conflict in the life of the Church in this country, during which time many people were to die for their religious beliefs.

Many people were outraged at Parliament's decision to strip the monastic houses of their land, buildings and other property between 1536-1539.  These assets which rightfully belong to the Church were appropriated by the Crown to help finance Henry's military exploits abroad.  This led to an uprising known as 'The Pilgrimage of Grace'.  The protest was an attempt by northern laymen and priests to halt the process of religious change and reverse the Dissolution of the Monasteries. 

Sadly it failed and many of the ringleaders were put to death, included the Abbot of Whalley.

Henry VIII was succeeded by his young son, Edward VI. His uncle was named Protector and administered matters of State for the young king.  During this time the religion revolution was pushed still further, with new prayer books and services being devised which ultimately led to England becoming a Protestant state.

In 1553, Queen Mary, a staunch Catholic, came to the throne.  She reversed many of the religious changes that had occurred over the past two decades.  However she died in 1559 and was succeeded by her sister Elizabeth who once again set England on the road to Protestantism.

During Elizabeth's reign legislation was introduced, such as the Treason Act of 1571, which was aimed at dealing with priests trained abroad.  In effect practising Catholicism became a treasonable offence punishable by death.

Of the approximately 650 priests working in England during Elizabeth's reign, 133 were executed as 'traitors' for refusing to conform.  At least 377 spent time in prison.  Many lay people suffered a similar fate, especially those who harboured priests.

Many priests who came from the seminaries abroad headed for Lancashire which, despite political pressure, had remained a bastion of Catholicism.  Local gentry would often shelter priests in their homes where the Mass would also be said by the priest.  In many of these homes special secret rooms or passages were built so that priests could hide themselves in times of trouble.

 Many of those who were captured were imprisoned at Lancaster Castle which is still used a prison today.  Between 1584-1646 many Catholics were executed in the city of Lancaster, which was the main town of the county.  Given the large number of those killed, Lancaster is undoubtedly the second most important execution site in the country after Tyburn in London.  Fifteen of those executed have been officially named as martyrs who died for their faith.

On their journey to execution just outside the city boundaries, the martyrs were cruelly treated.  Some were tied to hurdles and others dragged upside down along the road.  Once at their site of execution their torment was not over.  They were usually hung until they were not quite dead, stretched and them disembowelled whilst still conscious.  When they did eventually die they were beheaded and the remainder of their bodies were hacked into quarters and displayed in prominent places as a warning to other Catholics.  The site of the executions has been recently marked by a memorial plaque.

Although executions for being a Catholic stopped in the latter half of the seventeenth century, it was to be a long while before Catholics were freely allowed to practice their faith in public once again.  Our diocese is rightly proud of its rich Catholic heritage!