Lancaster Martyrs
Icon of Lancaster Martyrs, written by Martin Earle, enshrined at St Joseph's church, Lancaster.
This week we celebrate the Feast of the Lancaster Martyrs who were martyred on the hill above the Cathedral that is marked by the monument at that place overlooking Morecambe Bay. The fifteen martyrs were: St Edmund Arrowsmith SJ, St Ambrose Barlow OSB, Blessed James Bell, John Finch, Richard Hayhurst, Rober Nutter OP, Edward Thwing, Thurstan Hunt, Robert Middleton SJ, John Thules, Roger Wrenno, Edward Bamber, John Woodcock OFM, Thomas Whittaker and Venerable Laurence Bailey.
Bl Roger Wrenno was a layman, martyred in the reign of James I in this city of Lancaster. This is the account of his last moments as he approached his martyrdom on the hill above Lancaster. “The rope broke with the weight of his body, and he fell down to the ground. For a few moments he was stunned and remained motionless. When he came to himself, he rose and knelt up. He began to pray very devoutly with his eyes and hands raised up to heaven. Upon this the ministers approached him and praised the providence and mercies of God in his regard, and likewise the King’s clemency, who would give him his life, if he would condescend after all to take the oath. He rose to his feet and cried out ‘I am the same man I was, and in the same mind; use your pleasure with me.’ He ran back to the ladder and climbed up as fast as he could. The spectacle was a touching one, and the sheriff cried out ‘How now, what does this man mean, that he is in so great a haste to die?’ Roger Wrenno answered at once in these remarkable words: ‘If you had seen that which I have just now seen, you would be as much in haste to die as I am now.”
“Many, alas! Your blood forget; many your combat do not know; we, your children, will pay the debt, our thankless country to you doth owe. Stands no shrine o’er your scattered dust; grateful hearts are your living fane, your incense our love, and prayer, and trust, till England honour her saints again.”
From the hymn Martyrs of England