“In your endurance, you will gain your lives.” (Luke 21:19)
Although Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, the persecution of Catholics did not end with her reign. Her successor, King James I, initially promised tolerance but soon enacted harsh penalties against Catholics, especially after the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The government grew even more suspicious, passing stricter laws: priests were hunted, Mass was outlawed, and Catholic practices were criminal offenses.
In the later Stuart period, particularly during the hysteria of the Popish Plot (1678–1681) — a fictitious conspiracy invented by Titus Oates — Catholics were falsely accused of treason, leading to a final wave of executions.
During this time, martyrdom often came after betrayal, false testimony, and political paranoia rather than any real crimes. Yet despite fear, Catholics continued to live, worship, and teach the faith quietly, often at great personal risk.
Saints Martyred in the 17th Century:
St Nicholas Owen (†1606)
Nicholas Owen was a Jesuit lay brother and master craftsman who specialized in building secret priest holes across England. His ingenious hiding places saved countless priests from capture during Elizabeth’s reign and afterward. Betrayed and imprisoned in the Tower of London, he was brutally tortured despite his frail health. He died under torture without betraying any secrets, and the authorities falsely claimed he had taken his own life. Nicholas Owen’s silent heroism protected the mission of the Church in one of its darkest hours. His hidden work and unbreakable silence remain legendary among recusant Catholics.
St Thomas Garnet (†1608)
Thomas Garnet was the nephew of Jesuit superior Henry Garnet and trained as a priest abroad. Returning to England to serve covertly, he was captured and imprisoned but eventually banished. Undeterred, he returned to continue his mission, knowing the danger he faced. He was arrested again and condemned under laws against Catholic priests. At Tyburn, he forgave his persecutors and declared his joy in dying for the faith. Garnet’s youthful courage inspired many in the next generation of Catholics.
St John Roberts (†1610)
John Roberts, a Welsh Benedictine monk, ministered to the poor and hidden Catholic communities of London. Captured multiple times, he was repeatedly exiled but returned to England each time. Eventually betrayed, he was imprisoned in Newgate and sentenced to death for being a priest. He celebrated Mass for his fellow prisoners before facing execution. At Tyburn, he prayed for the king and country, offering his life to God. Roberts’ joyful perseverance strengthened London’s struggling Catholic underground.
St John Almond (†1612)
John Almond studied at the English College in Rome before returning to England as a missionary priest. He was active in Lancashire, celebrating secret Masses and administering sacraments. Captured during a period of renewed anti-Catholic fervor, he was tried and condemned simply for his priesthood. He cheerfully forgave his accusers and executioners from the scaffold. At Tyburn, he died professing his loyalty to Christ and the Catholic Church. Almond’s wit, bravery, and holiness were fondly remembered among northern Catholics.
St Edmund Arrowsmith (†1628)
Edmund Arrowsmith came from a devout recusant family and became a Jesuit priest. He ministered in Lancashire for many years before betrayal led to his capture. Refusing to deny his priesthood, he was tried and executed at Lancaster. Before dying, he publicly declared his love for England and his loyalty to God. He is remembered as one of the “Lancashire Martyrs,” beloved for his kindness and perseverance. His relic, the “Holy Hand,” is still venerated today.
St Ambrose Barlow (†1641)
Ambrose Barlow was a Benedictine monk who served quietly as a missionary priest for nearly twenty-four years. He was arrested while celebrating Easter Mass and brought to trial under anti-priest laws. Refusing to renounce his ministry, he was condemned and executed at Lancaster. His gentle manner and forgiveness deeply moved those who witnessed his death. Benedictine tradition honors him for his steadfast obedience and peaceful spirit. Barlow’s long-hidden ministry showed the endurance of the English Catholic mission.
St Alban Roe (†1642)
Alban Roe, a former Protestant, became a fiery Benedictine priest and missionary. Known for his joyful spirit and sometimes provocative debates with Protestants, he was beloved by poor Catholics. Captured during the height of anti-Catholic persecution, he was imprisoned at the Fleet and later condemned. He went to his execution with cheerfulness, joking with onlookers before mounting the scaffold. At Tyburn, he forgave all who had condemned him and prayed for the conversion of England. His boldness and joy made him one of the most colorful English martyrs.
St Henry Morse (†1645)
Henry Morse was a convert who studied at Douai and became a Jesuit priest. He ministered during plague outbreaks in London, often risking his life to care for the sick. Captured and imprisoned, he was eventually exiled but returned to England to continue his work. He was arrested again and condemned for being a priest. He faced execution at Tyburn with quiet dignity, praying for England’s return to the faith. Morse’s work among the sick made him a model of priestly charity.
St John Southworth (†1654)
John Southworth, a secular priest, served London’s hidden Catholics for decades. He was arrested multiple times and even banished, but continually returned to minister to his flock. Captured once more during the Cromwellian period, he was condemned for being a priest. At Tyburn, he bravely professed his faith and called on others to remain steadfast. Southworth’s body was preserved and later enshrined at Westminster Cathedral. He remains one of England’s most beloved priest-martyrs.
St John Plessington (†1679)
John Plessington served as a secret missionary priest mainly in Cheshire. He was arrested during the anti-Catholic hysteria of the fabricated Popish Plot. Although innocent of any crime, he was condemned under old anti-priest laws. At his execution, he forgave his enemies and reaffirmed his faith in Christ. His life highlighted the continuing vulnerability of Catholic priests even decades after Elizabeth’s reign. Plessington’s martyrdom is especially honored by Catholics in the north of England.
St Philip Evans (†1679)
Philip Evans, a Jesuit priest, ministered secretly in Wales for many years. He was arrested after the Popish Plot hysteria spread to Wales. Refusing to betray others or deny his priesthood, he was condemned. At his execution, he spoke with joy and hope, even playing the harp in his cell the night before. He was beheaded at Cardiff alongside St John Lloyd. Evans’ lively spirit and loyalty inspired the small Welsh Catholic community.
St John Lloyd (†1679)
John Lloyd was a secular priest who served Catholics in Wales in the years following the Reformation. He ministered under constant threat of arrest and betrayal. During the Popish Plot panic, he was captured and falsely accused of conspiracy. He refused to confess to crimes he had not committed and calmly faced execution. He was beheaded in Cardiff alongside Philip Evans. Lloyd’s quiet fidelity reflects the enduring witness of Catholic priests even in remote areas.
St John Wall (†1679)
John Wall, a Franciscan priest, ministered secretly for many years in the English Midlands. He was known for his scholarship, kindness, and dedication to confession and the sacraments. Captured during a time of renewed anti-Catholic violence, he refused to abandon his priesthood. He was executed at Worcester, dying peacefully and courageously. His relics were secretly preserved by local Catholics. Wall’s example continues to inspire Franciscans and Catholics across England.
St John Kemble (†1679)
John Kemble ministered faithfully for over fifty years in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. Despite his old age, he was arrested during the Popish Plot hysteria. At trial, he admitted to being a priest but denied involvement in any plots. Before his execution, he forgave his captors and spent time in prayer with his family. He was hanged at Hereford and is remembered for his peaceful acceptance of death. Kemble’s long, quiet ministry represents the endurance of English Catholic priests through generations.
St David Lewis (†1679)
David Lewis, a Welsh Jesuit, served Catholics quietly for nearly thirty years. He was betrayed by a former Catholic and arrested during the anti-Catholic panic. Lewis was tried and condemned solely for being a priest. He was executed at Usk, dying with prayers for forgiveness on his lips. He remains one of the most beloved Catholic figures in Welsh history. Lewis’ legacy is honored by Catholics throughout Wales today.
Keeping the Faith Alive
The martyrs of the 17th century endured suffering not just from persecution but also from betrayal, lies, and fear spread by political conspiracies like the Popish Plot. Many died simply for being priests or offering the sacraments — quietly, faithfully, without violence or rebellion.
Through their perseverance, the Catholic Church in England and Wales survived underground for generations, nourished by hidden Masses, secret catechesis, and the courage of ordinary faithful. Their lives remind us that even when truth is unpopular, and even when hope seems lost, fidelity to Christ will never be defeated.
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