Edward Bamber (alias Reading) (b. c. 1600, at the Moor,

Poulton-le-Fylde Poulton-le-Fylde (), commonly shortened to Poulton, is a market town in Lancashire, England, situated on the coastal plain called the Fylde. In the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 18,264. There is evidence of human habitation i ...

, Lancashire; executed at Lancaster 7 August 1646) was an English

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

priest. He was

beatified Beatification (from Latin ''beatus'', "blessed" and ''facere'', "to make”) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their nam ...

in 1987.

Life

Educated at the

English College, Valladolid The Royal English College of Valladolid is a residence and training centre located in Valladolid, Spain, for the training of Catholic priests for the English and Welsh Mission. It is under the patronage of St Alban. It was founded with the permissi ...

, he was ordained and sent to England. On landing at Dover, he knelt down to thank God. Seen doing this by the Governor of

Dover Castle Dover Castle is a medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England and is Grade I listed. It was founded in the 11th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history. Some sources say it is the ...

, he was arrested and banished. He returned again, and was soon afterwards apprehended near Standish, Lancashire; he had probably been chaplain at Standish Hall. On his way to

Lancaster Castle Lancaster Castle is a medieval castle and former prison in Lancaster in the English county of Lancashire. Its early history is unclear, but it may have been founded in the 11th century on the site of a Roman fort overlooking a crossing of ...

he was lodged at the Old-Green-Man Inn near Claughton-on-Brock, and managed to escape, his keepers being drunk. He was found wandering in the fields by a Mr. Singleton of Broughton Tower and was sheltered by him. Arrested the third time, he was committed to Lancaster Castle, where he remained in close confinement for three years, once escaping, but recaptured. At his trial with two other priests, Thomas Whitaker and John Woodcock, two apostates witnessed against him that he had administered the sacraments, and he was condemned to die. A stained glass window in the church of St.Marie's in Standish depicts the Ven. Edward being pushed off a ladder, which served as a gallows for his execution, by two soldiers. An ode composed on his death is still extant.

References

;Attribution * The entry cites: **

Richard Challoner Richard Challoner (29 September 1691 – 12 January 1781) was an English Roman Catholic bishop, a leading figure of English Catholicism during the greater part of the 18th century. The titular Bishop of Doberus, he is perhaps most famous for h ...

, ''Memoirs'' (1750) **William Watson, ''Decacordon of ten Quodlibet Questions'' (1602) ** Joseph Gillow, ''Bibl. Dict. Eng. Cath.'' (London, 1885) {{DEFAULTSORT:Bamber, Edward 1646 deaths 16th-century English Roman Catholic priests English beatified people 17th-century venerated Christians English College, Valladolid alumni Year of birth unknown Eighty-five martyrs of England and Wales 17th-century English Roman Catholic priests 17th-century Roman Catholic martyrs People from Poulton-le-Fylde

Life

See also

References