Augustine Webster
Augustine Webster was an English Catholic martyr and a Carthusian monk. He is remembered for his refusal to take the Oath of Supremacy during the English Reformation, which led to his execution. He was canonized as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
- Feast Day
- May 4
- Century
- 16th century
- Country Or Region
- England
Key Facts
- ›He was the prior of our Lady of Melwood, a Carthusian house at Epworth.
- ›Webster was educated at Cambridge University and became a monk at the Charterhouse of Sheen.
- ›He was imprisoned in the Tower of London in April 1535 for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy.
- ›Webster, along with John Houghton and Robert Lawrence, was charged with treason for denying royal supremacy.
- ›He was hanged, beheaded, and quartered at Tyburn on may 4, 1535.
- ›He was canonized by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
About Augustine Webster
Augustine Webster, O.Cart.
Augustine Webster, O.Cart. (died 4 May 1535) was an English Catholic martyr and a member of the Carthusian Order. He is recognized as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, canonized by Pope Paul VI.
Life and Historical Context
Educated at Cambridge University, Augustine Webster became a monk at the Charterhouse of Sheen. In 1531, he rose to the position of prior of Our Lady of Melwood, a Carthusian house located at Epworth on the Isle of Axholme in north Lincolnshire. This was a period of significant religious upheaval in England, marked by the English Reformation and the assertion of royal supremacy in ecclesiastical matters by King Henry VIII.
In February 1535, Webster, along with fellow prior Robert Lawrence of Beauvale, visited the London Charterhouse. Their purpose was to consult with John Houghton, the prior of London, on how the Carthusians should respond to the King's religious policies. They resolved to petition Thomas Cromwell, the King's Vicar-General, to express their loyalty while seeking an exemption from oaths that would violate their conscience.
Trial and Execution
As a consequence of their refusal to take the Oath of Supremacy, Augustine Webster, John Houghton, and Robert Lawrence were imprisoned in the Tower of London around mid-April 1535, on the orders of Thomas Cromwell. They were later joined by Bridgettine Richard Reynolds. All four were tried together on April 28, 1535, and charged with treason for their denial of royal supremacy. Despite pleading "not guilty" and the jury's initial inclination towards innocence, intense pressure from Cromwell, including his personal appearance before them, led to a guilty verdict. Augustine Webster, along with Houghton and Lawrence, was executed at Tyburn on May 4, 1535, by being hanged, beheaded, and quartered.
Veneration
Augustine Webster is venerated as a martyr within the Catholic Church. His feast day is observed on May 4. Stained-glass windows depicting him can be found in several churches, including Holy Souls Church in Scunthorpe and Our Lady and the English Martyrs in Cambridge. Furthermore, St. Augustine Webster Catholic Voluntary Academy in North Lincolnshire and the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Mary and St. Augustine Webster bear his name, attesting to his continued veneration.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Augustine Webster?
Augustine Webster was an English Catholic martyr and the prior of the Carthusian house Our Lady of Melwood. He lived during the English Reformation.
Why was Augustine Webster martyred?
Augustine Webster was martyred for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy, which would have required him to acknowledge King Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church of England. This oath violated his conscience as a Catholic.
When did Augustine Webster die?
Augustine Webster died on May 4, 1535. He was executed by hanging, beheading, and quartering at Tyburn.
When is Augustine Webster's feast day?
Augustine Webster's feast day is May 4.
Was Augustine Webster canonized?
Yes, Augustine Webster was canonized by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
Related Saints
John Houghton
John Houghton was a Catholic priest of the Carthusian order and the first martyr to die as a result of King Henry VIII's Act of Supremacy. He is remembered as the first Carthusian martyr and one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. His refusal to acknowledge the king as the Supreme Head of the Church of England led to his execution.
Robert Lawrence
Robert Lawrence was an English Carthusian monk and one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. He was executed at Tyburn for refusing to sign the Oath of Supremacy, which declared King Henry VIII the Supreme Head of the Church of England. He is remembered as a martyr for his faith.
Richard Reynolds
Richard Reynolds was an English Bridgettine monk who became a martyr for his faith. He is remembered for his execution in London for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy to King Henry VIII. Reynolds was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.