Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Thursday 11 August 2016

Bl. John Sandys - an Oriel martyr


Today is the 420th anniversary of the martyrdom of the priest Bl. John Sandys at Gloucester in 1586. An Oriel man born 1550/55 in Cheshire or Lancashire he converted to Catholicism and then trained at Reims for the priesthood.

His ability to celebrate Mass the morning of his execution is an interesting insight into what could happen in an Elizabethan prison, whilst the actual carrying out of his death sentence shocked some at least who did not share his religious convictions.

Stephanie Mann had this post about on her Supremacy and Survival blog him last year:
http://supremacyandsurvival.blogspot.com/2015/08/august-martyrs-blessed-john-sandys.html

There are other accounts of him at Blessed John Sandys from the Duiocese of Shrewsbury website and at John Sandys from the Robinswood Hill Roman Catholic parishes website.



 
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