Blessed Robert Widmerpool

Celebrate our Parish Martyr on May 11th the feast of the Nottinghamshire Martyrs.

"In my end is my beginning" is apt for Robert Widmerpool whose brief life is largely obscure, but whose final words and death are clearly described and documented and speak to us today of faith and courage, sacrifice and witness. He is one of the great band of Christian martyrs who praise God in every age and for whom it will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them.." (Rev.22:5)

Robert Widmerpole (the usual spelling at the time) was a young catholic layman aged twenty eight when he was executed in Canterbury on 1st October 1588. It was during the reign of Elizabeth I and in the autumn following the defeat of the Spanish Armada when anti-catholic feeling was running high. Many of the catholic prisoners in London at that time were taken in groups to regional centres to be executed as a deterrent and a terrifying example to others. They were all executed on treason charges rather than any charge that acknowledged their faith because the state did everything possible to deny their status as martyrs and to 'render them odious in the eyes of the simple' as Cardinal William Allen wrote at the time.

Robert was taken to Canterbury in company with three young priests, Edward Campion from Ludlow, (not to be confused with the more famous St.Edmund Campion), Robert Wilcox from Chester and Christopher Buxton from Tideswell in Derbyshire, also a martyr of the Nottingham Diocese. Robert Widmerpole was the last but one to die and Bishop Challoner's "Memoirs of Missionary Priests" taken from contemporary accounts describes what happened: "... he, with great affection, kissed both the ladder and the rope as the instruments of his martyrdom; and having now the rope about his neck, began to speak to the people, giving God most hearty thanks 'for bringing him to so great a glory, as that of dying for his faith and truth, in the same place where the glorious martyr, Saint Thomas of Canterbury had shed his blood for the honor of his Divine Majesty'. Some of the people at these words cried 'Away, away with the traitor' but he, not at moved at all with their clamours, looking around him and recommending himself to the prayers of the Catholics, was flung off the ladder, and so happily exchanged this mortal life for immortality."

The story is uncomfortable reading for all of us. We are able to coast along following faith in freedom, and never having to make the sort of decisions that challenged our Elizabethan ancestors, Robert Widmerpole, Margaret Clitherow and the others. What would we do if put to the test? Their beginnings were as ordinary as ours. The documents listing the catholic martyrs are clear that Robert was a Nottinghamshire man from Widmerpool and we know he was born in 1560. Although it has not been possible to find proof of his birth; it is rare to find such proof from Tudor times and there seems no reason to doubt that he was one of the family with the proud name of "Widmerpoles of Widmerpole", a gentry family with an unbroken male line from 1206 to 1732. We know that Robert was not a son of Sir William, head of the family during Robert's life, so he must have been one of the cousins or son of a younger son. He was close enough to the main line of descent to be counted a gentleman otherwise it would not have been possible for him to go to Oxford University and to become a tutor in a noble household afterwards. One of the rare pieces of definite evidence concerning him is an entry in the register of Gloucester Hall, an Oxford College, where he is recorded as a student aged 18 in 1578.

Robert did not graduate, This probably means that he was already a catholic. To graduate meant taking the Oath of Supremacy with hand on the Bible, swearing that Elizabeth was rightful governor of the Church in England. But whether Robert was a catholic by upbringing or by conversion at Oxford, where there were secret but strong Catholic influences, we do not know. There were a number of recusants in the village of Widmerpole. 'Recusants' means 'refusers' and it was a name given to anyone who refused to attend the Anglican parish services. This was obliged by law and there were fines for those who refused. It was usually assumed that any 'refuser' or recusant was a catholic.

Sir William was not a catholic but he may have used his influence to protect those locally who were because the names do not come up 'in court records until immediately after his death. All we know for certain about Robert is that some time after Oxford he took up a post as tutor in the household of the Countess Katharine of Northumberland. The Northumberlands were the Percy family, one of the great noble families of England, with strong catholic connections and heavily involved in the Northern Rebellion of 1569, the one serious rebellion faced by Elizabeth. The husband of the Countess, Earl Henry, spent much time in the 1570's and 80's in the Tower of London where he finally died in mysterious circumstances in 1585. His brother had been Blessed Thomas Percy whose execution at York in 1572 had a profound influence on St. Margaret Clitherow.

The Countess Katharine and her family were forbidden to go near their northern estates in case they became a focus for rebellion and their southern home during Robert's time was Petworth House in Sussex. The eldest son was brought up a Protestant under the strict eye of the government but there were seven other sons, so it is likely that Robert was tutor for a time at Petworth. It is also the likely setting for being drawn into the network of Catholics who secretly met priests at the Channel ports, hid them and escorted them on their journeys.

The laws against Catholics became harsher in the 1580's. Most people were terrified by them and spies were everywhere, but there were still many who continued to risk their lives on a dairy basis for mass and the sacraments and spiritual freedom. In 1581 it was high treason to be 'reconciled to Rome'; in 1585 it was high treason just to be a priest in England and the same for anyone who helped a priest. It was a crime to send your children abroad to be educated... the list goes on. Both Margaret Clitherow and Robert Widmerpole were laypeople caught under the 1585 Act, It seems that a specimen charge was brought against Robert, but it is likely that he had helped priests times and shown sustained courage.

Robert was sent to the Marshalsea Prison in London, we do not have any trial details. When he was sent to Canterbury it is most likely that he was already a condemned man. Kent records seem clear that there was no trial there.

There is plenty of evidence of other Catholics in prison and we we know that despite torture and the harshest conditions Catholics in prison were able to give great support to each other, to pray together and to comfort other prisoners too. They had choices; many were offered their freedom if they gave up their faith, but few did so.

Robert and the three priests were executed at Oaten Hill just outside the city walls of Canterbury. A few streets away there is a fitting memorial to the Protestant martyrs of Canterbury from Queen Mary's reign, but for the catholic martyrs there is no sign. Oaten Hill is just another busy suburban street taking the traffic flow away from the old city centre within the walls. But then there is little at Widmerpool. The old Elizabethan manor house is completely gone, the church is largely a 19th century restoration and no one knows what happened to the Widmerpole family tombs.

Robert's memorial is his example. In common with all the martyrs of England and Wales, his example can help to strengthen us, his heirs and descendants in faith:

'God, all-powerful Father, you strengthen our faith and take away our weakness. Let the prayers and example of the blessed martyrs of England and Wales help us to share in the passion and resurrection of Christ and being us to eternal joy with your saints.'

(Opening prayer from the Mass of the Beatified Mass of England and Wales whose feast was May 4th)

Mary Harding

The New Picture

I hope that those members of the parish, who worship at Keyworth, have noticed the 'latest addition' to the Church. The Painting, of Blessed Robert Widmerpool.

This has been painted by Paul Lillie, son of Chris and Maureen, and it is a wonderful addition to the Church. The painting has been financed by the proceeds from Mary Harding's book about Blessed Robert. I thank Mary and her family for the gift. I believe the painting is exceptional and portrays a young strong man - the real stuff of a martyr, he has red hair. The Tudor dynasty was characterized by red hair, especially Elizabeth I and it was even customary at Court to wear red wigs!

On Sunday 5th May, the day after the Feast of the Beatified Martyrs of England and Wales, at the 9.00am Mass, it is proposed that the Picture is blessed as also the restoration and refurbishment work in the Sanctuary. Blessing objects is a wonderful tradition - dating well back into the Jewish tradition. In blessing things, we don't 'change them,' but set them aside solely for the worship of God. So Blessed or Holy Water, is used to remind us of our Baptism and not to make the tea with!

Fr John Abbott, Sunday 5th May 1996