John Southworth

John Southworth (c. 1592 – June 28, 1654) was an English Catholic martyr and priest, recognized as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. He is remembered for his steadfast commitment to his faith in the face of persecution and for his eventual execution.

Life and Ministry

Born in Lancashire, England, John Southworth hailed from a family that chose to pay significant fines rather than abandon their Catholic faith. He pursued his theological studies at the English College in Douai, northern France. Following his ordination as a priest, he returned to England on October 13, 1919, where he ministered until 1624. He was then recalled to serve as chaplain to Benedictine nuns in Brussels. After about a year, he returned to Lancashire, where he was arrested in 1627 and imprisoned in Lancaster Castle. He was later moved to The Clink in London and sentenced to death for professing his faith. However, in 1630, he was deported to France at the insistence of Queen Henrietta Maria.

By 1636, Southworth had returned to England and was living in Clerkenwell, London. During a plague epidemic, he and Henry Morse ministered to the sick in Westminster and raised funds for victims' families. He was arrested again in November 1637 and imprisoned in the Gatehouse Prison, then transferred to The Clink, where he remained for three years. He was arrested four times and released three times by Secretary of State Sir Francis Windebank, acting on the Queen's direction. He managed to escape on his fourth arrest. From 1640 to 1654, he continued his clandestine ministry.

Execution and Veneration

Under the Interregnum, Southworth was arrested once more and tried at the Old Bailey under old anti-priest legislation. He pleaded guilty to exercising the priesthood and was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. He was executed at Tyburn, London. The Spanish ambassador arranged for his corpse to be returned to Douai for burial. His body was preserved and later buried in an unmarked grave for safety after the French Revolution. His remains were discovered in 1927 and brought back to England, where they are now kept in the Chapel of St George and the English Martyrs in Westminster Cathedral in London.

John Southworth was beatified in 1929 and canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970. His feast day is celebrated on June 27 in the Westminster diocese, and he is recognized as a patron saint of priests. In 2014, The Guild of Saint John Southworth was established in Westminster Cathedral to assist visitors.