Today, I had the amazing privilege to guide the parish of St. Anne Line Church Woodford around the crypt of Tyburn Convent for her feast day. In preparation for it, I wanted to learn more about this courageous saint, and I am in awe of this woman.

A Rebel from the Start

If there’s an English martyr whose story deserves more attention, it’s St. Anne Line. She wasn’t a priest or a noblewoman, but an ordinary woman who showed extraordinary courage. Her life was full of sacrifice, danger, and ultimately, incredible faith. And the best part? You can still visit places in London connected to her inspiring story.

Anne Line (née Heigham) was born in Essex in the 1560s into a well-off Protestant family. But, like a true rebel (or maybe just someone searching for truth), she converted to Catholicism as a teenager. Her father, not exactly thrilled about this decision, disowned her. That would have been enough hardship for most, but Anne wasn’t done yet.

She married Roger Line, another Catholic convert, but their happiness was short-lived. Roger was arrested simply for attending Mass and exiled to Flanders – they would never meet again. Being an exiled Catholic, he received a small allowance from the King of Spain, which he sent a portion to Anne in England. He died in 1594. So, by her early twenties, Anne was a penniless Catholic widow in a country where her faith was illegal. And what did she do? She doubled down.

A Secret Mission: Hiding Priests in London

Instead of laying low and despite chronic ill health, Anne became deeply involved in London’s underground Catholic network. These weren’t just small gatherings—Anne was running a full-on secret operation, making sure priests had safe places to stay and that Mass could still be celebrated in private homes. One priest, Fr. Mark Barkworth, later described Anne as a woman of “great comfort to Catholics.”

At one point, she ran a safe house for a Jesuit priest named Fr. John Gerard, who was a key figure in England’s Catholic Underground. After his arrest and escape from prison, she gave up managing the house and had to move because by then she was becoming well known and it became unsafe.

Arrest, Trial, and Legacy

Anne’s work came to an end on February 2, 1601, when her safe house was raided during a secret Mass. There was a large crowd gathered for Candlemas and neighbors called the constable. The priest managed to hide, but she was arrested and thrown into Newgate Prison, where she was charged with the “crime” of harboring Catholic priests.

Anne was so weak from fever that she was carried to her trial in a chair. During her trial, instead of pleading for mercy, she boldly declared:
“I am sentenced to die for harboring a Catholic priest, and so far am I from repenting for having so done that I wish, with all my soul, that where I have entertained one, I could have entertained a thousand.”

What courage! She was found guilty and sentenced to death. On February 27, 1601, Anne was taken to Tyburn and hanged. She was one of the very few female martyrs of her time.

In 1970, Anne was officially canonized as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Today, she is honored as the patron saint of widows and those who help persecuted Christians. Her feast day is February 27.

Anne Line’s bravery wasn’t about leading armies or fighting battles—it was about standing firm in her faith, even when the world was against her. And that’s why she remains one of the most inspiring figures in London’s Catholic history.

Where Can You Find St. Anne Line’s London?

Even though Anne’s London looked very different from today, you can still visit some key places linked to her story:

• Tyburn Convent & Tyburn Tree (near Marble Arch) – This is where Anne was executed, along with many other Catholic martyrs. The Tyburn Convent today honors their memory.
• Newgate Prison– This is where Anne was held before her trial. While the prison itself is long gone, there is a marker on the side of the building where it stood.
• St. Etheldreda’s Church, Ely Place – One of the few medieval Catholic churches still standing in London, this church would have been part of the underground network keeping the faith alive.

Next time you’re near Marble Arch, take a moment to remember her. Or better yet, pop into the Tyburn Convent and say a prayer in her honor. After all, if she were here today, she’d probably tell us to be just as bold in living out our faith!