William Dean (priest) facts for kids

William Dean (who was also known as William Deane) was an English priest who lived in the 1500s. He was a Roman Catholic priest during a time when practicing the Catholic faith was against the law in England. Because of his beliefs and his work as a priest, he was considered a martyr. A martyr is someone who dies for their faith. William Dean was later honored by the Church and declared "Blessed" in 1929.

The Life of William Dean

William Dean was born in a place called Grassington in West Riding of Yorkshire, England. His father was Thomas B. William went to school in Leeds and Clitheroe when he was younger.

When he was about 20 years old, in 1575, William went to Magdalene College, Cambridge university. He then moved to Caius College, Cambridge in 1577. After his studies, he became a minister. However, in 1581, he decided to become a Catholic. He was helped by a Catholic priest named Thomas Alfield.

Later that same year, William went to study at the English College in Reims, France. On December 21, 1581, he became a Catholic priest in a town called Soissons. Two other future martyrs, George Haydock and Robert Nutter, were ordained with him. This happened around the same time they heard the sad news that another famous Catholic, Edmund Campion, had died.

William Dean said his first Mass on January 9, 1582. He then returned to England on January 25 to carry out his work as a priest. However, he was arrested very soon after, on February 21. He was sent to Newgate prison and was even tortured. In April 1584, he was moved to another prison called The Clink.

In early 1585, William and many other priests were forced to leave England. They were put on a ship and dropped off on the coast of Normandy, France. They were told they would be killed if they ever came back to England.

But William Dean was brave. In November of that same year, he secretly returned to England to continue his religious work. He was arrested again and put in Gatehouse Prison. On August 22, 1588, he was put on trial and found guilty simply for being a priest. William Dean was one of six priests and four other people who were sentenced to death. He was the first to be executed on a new gallows built in Mile End, London. A man named Henry Webley, who had helped William, was also executed with him.

At his execution, William Dean tried to speak to the crowd. But he was hit on the head and silenced so he couldn't talk.

Henry Webley's Story

Henry Webley was born in Gloucester around 1558. He later moved to London. There, he helped William Dean during the short time the priest was working in the city.

By 1586, the English government was watching all the ports very closely. They had officials and spies looking for anyone who might be helping Catholic priests. In April of that year, Henry Webley was caught on a ship in Chichester. He was trying to go to France. He was sent to a prison called the Marshalsea and stayed there for two years.

Henry's "crimes" included becoming a Catholic, confessing his sins to Father Dean, and helping the priest. His trial happened in August 1588. It seems the trial was just a formality, meaning the decision to execute him had already been made. Henry Webley was hanged, along with William Dean, at Mile End Green on August 28, 1588.

Edward Shelley

Edward Shelley was from Warminghurst, Sussex, and also lived in East Smithfield, London. He was the son of Edward Shelley, who worked for the royal household. His family was involved in a famous legal case known as "Shelley's case." Edward was around 50 or 60 years old.

By April 1584, Edward Shelley was already in The Clink prison because of his Catholic faith. He was found guilty for two main reasons: first, for having a book called Leicester's Commonwealth, and second, for helping Blessed William Dean. Edward Shelley was hanged at Tyburn on August 30, 1588.