Dryburne Martyrs facts for kids

The Dryburne Martyrs were four English Roman Catholic priests: Richard Hill, Richard Holiday, John Hogg, and Edmund Duke. They all died on May 27, 1590, in Dryburne, County Durham, during the reign of Elizabeth I. They were put to death because they were Catholic priests in England at a time when this was against the law. Later, in 1987, Pope John Paul II recognized them as "Blessed," which means they are honored for their strong faith.

Their Lives and Faith

Not much is known about the early lives of these four men. Edmund Duke was born in Kent in 1563. Richard Hill, Richard Holiday, and John Hogg came from Yorkshire. We don't know exactly when they were born.

Becoming Priests

In the mid-1580s, all four men traveled to the English College in Rheims, France. This was a special school where English Catholics could study to become priests. At that time, it was very difficult and dangerous to be a Catholic priest in England.

• Edmund Duke arrived in Rheims in 1583. He later went to the English College in Rome and became a priest there in 1589.
• Richard Holiday arrived in 1584.
• Richard Hill arrived in 1587.
• John Hogg arrived in 1587.

The three men (Hill, Holiday, and Hogg) became priests together in France in 1589.

Returning to England

In March 1590, all four priests were sent back to England to serve the Catholic community there. They landed in the North of England, in County Durham. However, they stayed together, which made people suspicious. Soon after they arrived, they were arrested.

Why They Were Arrested

During Queen Elizabeth I's reign, a law called the 1584 Act made it a serious crime to be a Catholic priest in England. If you were caught, the punishment was very harsh. Because of this law, the four priests were found guilty and sentenced to death.

The Day They Died

The trial for the Dryburne Martyrs took place in Durham. They were put to death on May 27, 1590. The place where this happened was called Dryburn, which is now near St. Leonard's Catholic School.

There's a story that after the priests died, a small stream nearby completely dried up, and that's how the area got its name "Dryburn." However, the place was actually called Dryburn before their deaths.

It is said that many Catholics were in the crowd that day. When the priests' heads were shown, only a few officials and Protestant ministers would say "God save the Queen." It's also believed that two Protestant people watching, Robert and Grace Maire, were so moved that they decided to become Catholic.

The details of this event were even written down in the records of St Oswald's parish in Durham.

Honoring Their Memory

All four of the Dryburne Martyrs were officially recognized as "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II on November 22, 1987. This means the Catholic Church honors them as martyrs who died for their faith.

• There is a church named Blessed Edmund Duke Parish in Coxhoe, Durham.
• A memorial for the Durham Martyrs is located south of Framwellgate Moor, near County Hall.
• The Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle celebrates the feast day of the "Blessed Martyrs of the Diocese" every year on July 24.

See Also

• Catholic Church in the United Kingdom
• Douai Martyrs
• Eighty-five martyrs of England and Wales
• John Boste - another martyr who died at Dryburne in 1594
• List of Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation

Sources

• Anstruther, Godfrey. Seminary Priests, St Edmund's College, Ware, vol. 1, 1968, pp. 107, 167, 170, 172.