The Canterbury Martyrs were 16th-century English Protestant martyrs. They were executed for heresy in
Canterbury, Kent
Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of th ...
, and were the last Protestants burnt during the reign of
Mary I
Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, and as "Bloody Mary" by her Protestant opponents, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain from January 1556 until her death in 1558. She ...
. Their story is recorded in ''
Foxe's Book of Martyrs
The ''Actes and Monuments'' (full title: ''Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, Touching Matters of the Church''), popularly known as Foxe's Book of Martyrs, is a work of Protestant history and martyrology by Protestant Engli ...
''.
1555
On 12 July 1555, John Bland (rector of
Adesham), John Frankesh (vicar of
Rolvindon), Nicholas Sheterden and Humphrey Middleton were all burnt together. According to Foxe, they ''resigned themselves with Christian fortitude, fervently praying that God would receive them into his heavenly kingdom.''
On 23 August, William Coker, William Hopper, Henry Laurence, Richard Collier (or Colliar), Richard Wright and William Stere were burnt.
[Thomas Bryce, "The Regester" in Edward Farr, ed.]
''Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth''
1845.
Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-19.
On 6 September, George Catmer (or Painter) of
Hythe, Kent, Robert Streater (or Streter) of
Hythe, Kent, Anthony Burward of Calete (possibly
Calais),
Transactions of the Congregational Historical Society, Vol 2, P 366 (1969)
/ref> George Brodbridge (or Bradbridge) of Bromfield, Kent and James Tutty (or Tuttey) of Brenchley
Brenchley is a village in the civil parish of Brenchley and Matfield, in the borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.
All Saints Church is located in the village, and is a Grade I listed building.
History
The name is historically derived fr ...
, Kent were burnt.[Foxe's Book of Martyrs - 311. GEORGE CATMER, ROBERT STREATER, .ANTHONY BURWARD, GEORGE BRODBRIDGE, AND JAMES TUTTY; THOMAS HAYWARD AND JOHN GOREWAY](_blank)
Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-16.[Image of FOXE: BOOK OF MARTYRS. – The Burning Of George Catmer, Robert Streater, Anthony Burward And George Broadbridge At Canterbury, England, 12 July 1555. Line Engraving, From A Late 18th Century English Edition Of John Foxe's 'The Book Of Martyrs,' First Published In 1563. From The Granger Collection](_blank)
Granger.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-16.
Machadoink.com (1907-10-16). Retrieved on 2012-08-16.
On 30 November, John Webbe (or Web), George Roper and Gregory Parke (or Paynter) were burnt.
Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-19.
1556
On 31 January 1556, John Lomas (or Jhon Lowmas) of Tenterden
Tenterden is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. It stands on the edge of the remnant forest the Weald, overlooking the valley of the River Rother. It was a member of the Cinque Ports Confederation. Its riverside today is not ...
, Kent, Agnes Snoth (or Annis Snod) of Smarden
Smarden is a civil parish and village, west of Ashford in Kent, South East England.
The village has the Anglican parish church of St Michael the Archangel which, because of its high scissor beam roof, is sometimes known as ''"The Barn of Kent"''. ...
, Kent, Anne Wright (or Albright) alias Champnes, Joan Sole (or Jone Soale) of Horton, Kent and Joan Catmer of Hythe, Kent were viciously and savagely burned alive at the stake in Wincheap
Wincheap is a road and suburb in Canterbury, Kent, England. The road forms part of the A28 road, stretching for around from the city wall, close by Canterbury East railway station, to the over-crossing of the A2 and the parish of Thanington.
Hi ...
, Canterbury. A monument marks the spot on the road now called 'Martyrs Field Road'.[Foxe's Book of Martyrs: 330. John Lomas, Anne Albright, Joan Catmer, Agnes Snoth, and Joan Sole.](_blank)
Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-22.
1557
On 15 January 1557, Stephen Kempe of Norgate/ Northgate, Canterbury, William Waterer of Biddenden
Biddenden is a large, mostly agricultural and wooded village and civil parish in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. The village lies on the Weald of Kent, some north of Tenterden. It was a centre for the Wealden iron industry and also of ...
, Kent, William Prowting of Thornham, Kent, William Lowick of Cranbrooke, Kent, Thomas Hudson of Selling, Kent
Selling is a village and civil parish southeast of Faversham and west of Canterbury in Kent, England.
Geography
The village is hilly, sloping down Kent Downs AONB to the south and east, with its northern point at an elevation of 30 m and a ...
and William Hay of Hythe, Kent were burnt.
On 19 June, John Fishcock/Jhon Fiscoke, Nicholas White, Nicholas Pardue/Perdue, Barbara Final, Bradbridge's Widow (Bradbridge's Wife), probably of Tenterden
Tenterden is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. It stands on the edge of the remnant forest the Weald, overlooking the valley of the River Rother. It was a member of the Cinque Ports Confederation. Its riverside today is not ...
, Kent and probably the widow of Martin Bradbridge who was burnt on 16 January 1557, Mistress Wilson (also referred to as 'Wilson's Wife') and Alice Benden, possibly also referred to as 'Benson's Wife', of Staplehurst
Staplehurst is a town and civil parish in the borough of Maidstone in Kent, England, south of the town of Maidstone and with a population of 6,003. The town lies on the route of a Roman road, which is now incorporated into the course of the A ...
(or possibly Cranbrook), Kent were burnt.
1558
On 15 November 1558, John Corneford of Wrotham
Wrotham ( ) is a village on the Pilgrims' Way in Kent, England, at the foot of the North Downs. It is north of Borough Green and approximately east of Sevenoaks. It is between the M20 and M26 motorways.
History
The name first occurs as ''U ...
, Kent, Christopher Brown of Maidstone
Maidstone is the largest town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it wi ...
, Kent, John Herst of Ashford, Kent, Alice Snoth and Katherine Knight/Tynley were burnt.[Foxe's Book of Martyrs - 389. The last martyrs](_blank)
Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-31.
See also
* List of Protestant martyrs of the English Reformation
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Canterbury Martyrs
Groups of Christian martyrs of the Early Modern era
People executed under Mary I of England
1555 deaths
16th-century Protestant martyrs
People executed for heresy
People from Canterbury
16th-century English people
Year of birth unknown
Executed English people
People executed by the Kingdom of England by burning
Protestant martyrs of England