The Martyrs Memorial, Canterbury

~ THE MARTYR'S MEMORIAL ~

NEAR WINCHEAP STREET, CANTERBURY

Erected 1899 at a cost of £600 (publicly funded)

WTHBH - April 15, 1899 - Kent Martyrs' Memorial - The 10th June has been fixed as the date for the ceremony of unveiling the Martyrs' Memorial at Canterbury. The Dean of Canterbury has promised the use of the Cathedral for a special service on the occasion, to which all subscribers will be invited. An additional sum of about £50 is required for the due completion of the work with iron railings, seats, &c., and to obtain this a last appeal has been sent out signed by Captain Lambert chairman, and Mr. W. H. Horsley, hon. secretary (St. Stephen's Canterbury).

Postcard showing J. R. Barnabas. Presbyter, Pastor of the French Walloon & Huguenot Church

"THE MARTYR' S MEMORIAL", a postcard in my collection, mailed October 16th, 1907, to Miss Moulton, Langford Arch, Sawston, Cambridgeshire

"Here today. Hope you are all right. We miss you very much & I was told on Monday to be sure & tell you that it was an effort not to weep over your absence. We had a good time. Love from Granny."

"An adjacent field, outside the walls, was the scene of the martyrdom's in the reign of Mary, and bears the name of the Martyrs' field."

The Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales, Vol. I. 1872

Map detail from Austen's Hand-book to Canterbury and the Cathedral c. 1891

"In the opposite direction runs Wincheap Street, and the first turning on the left, beyond the railway bridge, leads to the Martyr's Field, where 41 Protestant martyrs were burnt at the stake in the reign of Mary. On this spot a memorial in grey granite, some 25 feet in height, has been erected. It stands on a concrete foundation in which are embedded blocks of broken granite. On the front of the pedestal is the following inscription:

"IN MEMORY OF

FORTY-ONE KENTISH MARTYRS

WHO WHERE BURNT AT THE STAKE ON THIS SPOT

IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN MARY,

A.D. 1555-1558

FOR THEMSELVES THEY EARNED THE MARTYRS CROWN

BY THEIR HEROIC FIDELITY THEY HELPED TO SECURE

FOR SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS THE PRICELESS BLESSING

OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS."

On the two side faces are the names of the Martyrs, while on the fourth face is a further inscription commemorating the erection of the memorial, closing with the significant "Lest we forget." The obelisk is surmounted by the Canterbury Cross, a copy of a bronze brooch found in the city, supposed to be Roman, but of a design not met with elsewhere. In addition to the 41 Martyrs, four persons were hanged here in the time of Elizabeth for their religious beliefs."

Austen's Hand-book to Canterbury and the Cathedral c. 1891

John Bland
Vicar of Adisham
John Frankesh
Vicar of Rolvenden
Nicholas Sheterden
Humphrey Middleton
William Coker *(Croker)
William Hopper
Henry Lawrence
Richard Collier
Richard Wright
William Steere
George Catmer
Robert Streater
Anthony Burward
George Broadbridge
James Tuttey
John Webbe
George Roper (noted as Raper below)
Gregory Parke
John Lomas
Agnes Snoth
Anne Albricht

Joan Sole
Joan Catmer
William Waterer
Stephen Kempe
William Hay
Thomas Hudson
William Lowick
William Prowting
John Fishcock
Nicholas White
Nicholas Pardue
Barbara Final
Bradbridge's Widow
Wilsons Wife
Alice Benden
John Corneford
Christopher Browne
John Herst
Alice Snoth
Katherine Knight

....On the twelfth day of July, 1555, this John Bland the Parson of Adisham, John Frankish, who was also a clergyman, Nicholas Sheterden, Humphrey Middleton, and another named Crocker, were burnt in the martyrs' field at Canterbury. One named Thacker, who was condemned to suffer with them, purchased his liberty by recanting.

Reader, I have more to tell thee of Canterbury, and the godly martyrs who suffered there, but the evening hours are advancing, and we most leave our quiet colloquy in Adisham church-yard. The moon will light us on our walk back to Canterbury, with a light almost as clear and quite as pleasant as that of day......

There is little to attract the glance, or mark the spot beneath us, where John Bland and Alice Benden, and others of like faith and courage won the crown of martyrdom. The eye passes over that field of dingy grass, its few desolate looking elms of meagre foliage, and the martyr's pit with a puddle of foul water at its shallow bottom to the bright prospect beyond rich masses of clustering trees, fields of golden corn, and many a cottage home dotting the pleasant landscape, as it lies, now in shade and now in sunshine, beneath the deep blue heavans, while the shadows of the rolling clouds pass swiftly over it. Here there is a heaviness in the air, but there, in the open country, the pure breezes are blowing freshly; yet again and again the heart calls back the eye to fix its thoughtful gaze upon the neglected martyrs' field, hallowed by the sufferings of those who, while on earth were "destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom indeed the world was not worthy, but whose names are written in the Book of Life."

The Memorials of the English Martyrs, 1853

*noted as Crocker in "Memorials of the English Martyrs"

Queen Mary

*eldest daughter of King Henry VIII, by his first wife, Catherine of Spain

1554 - 1555

July - ...two Priests and two Lay Men, were Burnt at Canterbury, and Margaret Polley at Tunbridge, who was the first Woman that suffer'd in this Reign.

Aug. - Six were Burnt at Canterbury

Sept. - George Catmer and 4 others were Burnt at Canterbury

Nov. - In the end of this Month, John Web Gentleman, George Raper* and Gregory Parke, were Burnt all at one Stake in Canterbury

Noted in "The Works of John Knox, 1856" shows "At Cantorberie, Oct 16th, John Web, gentleman. At Canterbury. Oct 31 George Roper. Gregorie Painter 1 (Gregorie Parke)."

In all, 67 were Burnt this Year, of whom 4 were Bishops, and 13 were Priests.

1556 - 1557

Jan 31, 1556 - John Lomas (of Tenterden) and 4 Women were Burnt at Canterbury in one Fire (Anges Snoth, Anne Wright, Joan Sole, and Joan Catmer, wife of George Catmer)

May 2. - John Hallier a Priest was Burnt in Canterbury

A severe Inquisition of Hereticks was now set up, who seiz'd on all they suspected.

More Burnings, 6 were Burnt in one Fire at Canterbury, and 4 in other parts of Kent.

So 79 in all were burnt in this year.

1558

Nov. 10 - Three Men and two Women were burnt at Canterbury. In all 39 this Year.

The number of Persons that suffered Martyrdome here in England, for opposing Popery, under Queen Mary's Reign, was 287, viz. 5 Bishops, 21 Divines, 18 Gentlemen, 84 Tradesmen, 110 Husbandmen, Servants and Labourers, 26 Wives, 20 Widows, 9 Virgins, 2 Boys, and 2 infants. Besides 16 that perished in Prison, and 7 that were Whipt, one to Death, 12 buried in Dunghils; and many that lay condemn'd in expectation of their execution: and some Hundreds that fled beyond the Seas. Now if to this number of 287, we add 848, the number of those that suffered in former Reigns, (viz. the Reigns of King Richard II. Henry V. Henry VI. Edward IV. Henry VIII.) the dismal Total will be no less than 1135. Not to say any thing of the Persecutions under the Roman Emperors, Saxons, and Danes. A Noble Army of Martyrs indeed!

A chronological history of England 1714


~ THE MARTYR'S MEMORIAL ~ NEAR WINCHEAP STREET, CANTERBURY Erected 1899 at a cost of £600 (publicly funded) WTHBH - April 15, 1899 - Kent Martyrs' Memorial - The 10th June has been fixed as the date for the ceremony of unveiling the Martyrs' Memorial at Canterbury. The Dean of Canterbury has promised the use of the Cathedral for a special service on the occasion, to which all subscribers will be invited. An additional sum of about £50 is required for the due completion of the work with iron railings, seats, &c., and to obtain this a last appeal has been sent out signed by Captain Lambert chairman, and Mr. W. H. Horsley, hon. secretary (St. Stephen's Canterbury). __ Postcard showing J. R. Barnabas. Presbyter, Pastor of the French Walloon & Huguenot Church "THE MARTYR' S MEMORIAL", a postcard in my collection, mailed October 16th, 1907, to Miss Moulton, Langford Arch, Sawston, Cambridgeshire "Here today. Hope you are all right. We miss you very much & I was told on Monday to be sure & tell you that it was an effort not to weep over your absence. We had a good time. Love from Granny." "An adjacent field, outside the walls, was the scene of the martyrdom's in the reign of Mary, and bears the name of the Martyrs' field." The Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales, Vol. I. 1872 Map detail from Austen's Hand-book to Canterbury and the Cathedral c. 1891 "In the opposite direction runs Wincheap Street, and the first turning on the left, beyond the railway bridge, leads to the Martyr's Field, where 41 Protestant martyrs were burnt at the stake in the reign of Mary. On this spot a memorial in grey granite, some 25 feet in height, has been erected. It stands on a concrete foundation in which are embedded blocks of broken granite. On the front of the pedestal is the following inscription: "IN MEMORY OF FORTY-ONE KENTISH MARTYRS WHO WHERE BURNT AT THE STAKE ON THIS SPOT IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN MARY, A.D. 1555-1558 FOR THEMSELVES THEY EARNED THE MARTYRS CROWN BY THEIR HEROIC FIDELITY THEY HELPED TO SECURE FOR SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS THE PRICELESS BLESSING OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS." On the two side faces are the names of the Martyrs, while on the fourth face is a further inscription commemorating the erection of the memorial, closing with the significant "Lest we forget." The obelisk is surmounted by the Canterbury Cross, a copy of a bronze brooch found in the city, supposed to be Roman, but of a design not met with elsewhere. In addition to the 41 Martyrs, four persons were hanged here in the time of Elizabeth for their religious beliefs." Austen's Hand-book to Canterbury and the Cathedral c. 1891 John Bland Vicar of Adisham John Frankesh Vicar of Rolvenden Nicholas Sheterden Humphrey Middleton William Coker (Croker) William Hopper Henry Lawrence Richard Collier Richard Wright William Steere George Catmer Robert Streater Anthony Burward George Broadbridge James Tuttey John Webbe George Roper (noted as Raper below) Gregory Parke John Lomas Agnes Snoth Anne Albricht Joan Sole Joan Catmer William Waterer Stephen Kempe William Hay Thomas Hudson William Lowick William Prowting John Fishcock Nicholas White Nicholas Pardue Barbara Final Bradbridge's Widow Wilsons Wife Alice Benden John Corneford Christopher Browne John Herst Alice Snoth Katherine Knight ....On the twelfth day of July, 1555, this John Bland the Parson of Adisham, John Frankish, who was also a clergyman, Nicholas Sheterden, Humphrey Middleton, and another named Crocker, were burnt in the martyrs' field at Canterbury. One named Thacker, who was condemned to suffer with them, purchased his liberty by recanting. Reader, I have more to tell thee of Canterbury, and the godly martyrs who suffered there, but the evening hours are advancing, and we most leave our quiet colloquy in Adisham church-yard. The moon will light us on our walk back to Canterbury, with a light almost as clear and quite as pleasant as that of day...... There is little to attract the glance, or mark the spot beneath us, where John Bland and Alice Benden, and others of like faith and courage won the crown of martyrdom. The eye passes over that field of dingy grass, its few desolate looking elms of meagre foliage, and the martyr's pit with a puddle of foul water at its shallow bottom to the bright prospect beyond rich masses of clustering trees, fields of golden corn, and many a cottage home dotting the pleasant landscape, as it lies, now in shade and now in sunshine, beneath the deep blue heavans, while the shadows of the rolling clouds pass swiftly over it. Here there is a heaviness in the air, but there, in the open country, the pure breezes are blowing freshly; yet again and again the heart calls back the eye to fix its thoughtful gaze upon the neglected martyrs' field, hallowed by the sufferings of those who, while on earth were "destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom indeed the world was not worthy, but whose names are written in the Book of Life." The Memorials of the English Martyrs, 1853 noted as Crocker in "Memorials of the English Martyrs" Queen Mary eldest daughter of King Henry VIII, by his first wife, Catherine of Spain 1554 - 1555* July - ...two Priests and two Lay Men, were Burnt at Canterbury, and Margaret Polley at Tunbridge, who was the first Woman that suffer'd in this Reign. Aug. - Six were Burnt at Canterbury Sept. - George Catmer and 4 others were Burnt at Canterbury *Nov. - In the end of this Month, John Web Gentleman, George Raper and Gregory Parke, were Burnt all at one Stake in Canterbury Noted in "The Works of John Knox, 1856" shows "At Cantorberie, Oct 16th, John Web, gentleman. At Canterbury. Oct 31 George Roper. Gregorie Painter 1 (Gregorie Parke)." In all, 67 were Burnt this Year, of whom 4 were Bishops, and 13 were Priests. 1556 - 1557 Jan 31, 1556 - John Lomas (of Tenterden) and 4 Women were Burnt at Canterbury in one Fire (Anges Snoth, Anne Wright, Joan Sole, and Joan Catmer, wife of George Catmer) May 2. - John Hallier a Priest was Burnt in Canterbury A severe Inquisition of Hereticks was now set up, who seiz'd on all they suspected. More Burnings, 6 were Burnt in one Fire at Canterbury, and 4 in other parts of Kent. So 79 in all were burnt in this year. 1558 Nov. 10 - Three Men and two Women were burnt at Canterbury. In all 39 this Year.** The number of Persons that suffered Martyrdome here in England, for opposing Popery, under Queen Mary's Reign, was 287, viz. 5 Bishops, 21 Divines, 18 Gentlemen, 84 Tradesmen, 110 Husbandmen, Servants and Labourers, 26 Wives, 20 Widows, 9 Virgins, 2 Boys, and 2 infants. Besides 16 that perished in Prison, and 7 that were Whipt, one to Death, 12 buried in Dunghils; and many that lay condemn'd in expectation of their execution: and some Hundreds that fled beyond the Seas. Now if to this number of 287, we add 848, the number of those that suffered in former Reigns, (viz. the Reigns of King Richard II. Henry V. Henry VI. Edward IV. Henry VIII.) the dismal Total will be no less than 1135. Not to say any thing of the Persecutions under the Roman Emperors, Saxons, and Danes. A Noble Army of Martyrs indeed! A chronological history of England 1714
MEMORIALS	HOME
© T. Machado 2014