Ralph Sherwin
Ralph Sherwin was an English Roman Catholic priest and martyr, executed in 1581. He is remembered for his steadfast faith, his missionary work in England, and his martyrdom alongside Edmund Campion and Alexander Briant. Sherwin was canonized as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
- Feast Day
- December 1
- Century
- 16th century
- Country Or Region
- England
Key Facts
- ›Ralph Sherwin was born in Rodsley, Derbyshire, on October 25, 1550.
- ›He was educated at Eton College and Exeter College, Oxford, where he earned degrees in classics.
- ›Sherwin converted to Roman Catholicism in 1575 and was ordained a priest in 1577.
- ›He served as a missionary in England after spending time at the English College in Rome.
- ›He was arrested in London on November 9, 1580, and imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he was tortured.
- ›Sherwin was convicted of treasonable conspiracy on November 20, 1581, and executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering at Tyburn on December 1, 1581.
About Ralph Sherwin
Ralph Sherwin (October 25, 1550 – December 1, 1581) was an English Roman Catholic priest, executed for his faith and recognized as a Catholic martyr and saint. His life and death are significant within the context of religious persecution in Elizabethan England.
Early Life and Education
Born in Rodsley, Derbyshire, Sherwin received his early education at Eton College. His academic talents led to a fellowship at Exeter College, Oxford, likely influenced by his uncle. He earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Oxford University, demonstrating a strong aptitude for classical scholarship. However, in 1575, he converted to Roman Catholicism, a decision that profoundly shaped his future path.
Priesthood and Ministry
Following his conversion, Sherwin joined the English College at Douai and was ordained a priest on March 23, 1577. He subsequently spent nearly three years at the English College in Rome. On April 18, 1580, Sherwin, along with thirteen companions, departed Rome to serve as missionaries in England. He began a successful ministry across the country, though it was to be short-lived.
Imprisonment and Martyrdom
Sherwin's missionary work came to an end on November 9, 1580, when he was arrested in London while preaching. He was imprisoned in the Marshalsea, where he ministered to fellow prisoners, and later transferred to the Tower of London. In the Tower, he endured torture, including being laid out in the snow, and was placed in isolation without food. Despite facing immense pressure, including an alleged offer of a bishopric by Queen Elizabeth I if he recanted, Sherwin refused. After a year in prison, he was tried for treasonable conspiracy alongside Edmund Campion and convicted on November 20, 1581. On December 1, 1581, Ralph Sherwin was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn, proclaiming his innocence and Catholic faith from the scaffold.
Veneration
Ralph Sherwin is venerated as a martyr. He was the first alumnus of the English College in Rome to be martyred, and over forty more followed in the subsequent century. Sherwin was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on December 29, 1886, and canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 25, 1970, as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. His individual feast day is celebrated on December 1, the anniversary of his martyrdom.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Ralph Sherwin born?
Ralph Sherwin was born in Rodsley, Derbyshire, England, on October 25, 1550. He was christened in Longford church.
What was Ralph Sherwin's education and early career?
He was educated at Eton College and Exeter College, Oxford, where he excelled as a classical scholar. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1571 and Master of Arts in 1574 before converting to Roman Catholicism.
When and why was Ralph Sherwin ordained a priest?
Sherwin was ordained a priest by the Bishop of Cambrai on March 23, 1577, after joining the English College at Douai. He then spent nearly three years at the English College in Rome.
How was Ralph Sherwin arrested and what happened to him in prison?
He was arrested on November 9, 1580, while preaching in London and imprisoned in the Marshalsea, later transferred to the Tower of London. In prison, he converted many fellow inmates and was subjected to torture on the rack and exposure to the cold.
What was the charge against Ralph Sherwin and what was his sentence?
Sherwin, along with Edmund Campion, was charged with treasonable conspiracy. He was convicted in Westminster Hall on November 20, 1581, and sentenced to death.
How and when was Ralph Sherwin executed?
Ralph Sherwin was executed on December 1, 1581, at Tyburn. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered along with Alexander Briant and Edmund Campion.
When was Ralph Sherwin canonized and as part of which group?
Ralph Sherwin was canonized on October 25, 1970, by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. He was previously beatified by Pope Leo XIII on December 29, 1886.
Related Saints
Alexander Briant
Alexander Briant was an English Jesuit and martyr executed at Tyburn. He converted to Catholicism while at Oxford and later entered the English College at Reims and Douai, where he was ordained a priest. Briant is primarily remembered for his martyrdom and subsequent canonization as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
Edmund Campion
Edmund Campion was an English Jesuit priest and martyr who ministered underground in officially Anglican England. He was arrested, convicted of high treason, and executed at Tyburn. Campion is remembered for his courageous stand for his faith and his intellectual defense of Catholicism.
Charles de Foucauld
Charles de Foucauld was a French monk, priest, and hermit who lived among the Tuareg people in the Sahara. He is remembered for his explorer and geographer work, his deep spiritual devotion, and his inspiration for numerous religious congregations. Canonized in 2022, he is considered a martyr of faith.