Hugh Taylor (priest) facts for kids

Hugh Taylor and Marmaduke Bowes were two English men who lived in the 1500s. They were Roman Catholics during a time when practicing Catholicism in England was very difficult and even dangerous. Both men were considered martyrs by the Catholic Church, meaning they died because of their religious beliefs. They were later recognized as "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II in 1987.

Hugh Taylor's Story

Hugh Taylor was born in Durham, a city in England. He traveled to Reims, a city in France, to become a Catholic priest. He was ordained, or made a priest, on May 2, 1582.

Returning to England

After becoming a priest, Hugh Taylor was sent back to England on March 27, 1585. At this time, England had a new law called the Jesuits, etc. Act 1584. This law made it a serious crime, called treason, for any English person to become a Catholic priest abroad and then return to England.

His Arrest and Death

Hugh Taylor was the first person to be punished under this new law. He was arrested and later executed in York, England, on November 25, 1585. He died because he was a Catholic priest who had returned to England.

Marmaduke Bowes's Story

Marmaduke Bowes was a married gentleman who lived near Appleton Wiske in Cleveland. He was a Catholic, but sometimes he would outwardly follow the rules of the Church of England to protect his family and property. However, he made sure his children had a Catholic teacher.

Accusation and Trial

Marmaduke Bowes was accused by a former teacher of his children, who had stopped being Catholic. Bowes had been in prison before with his wife. He was told to appear at the Assizes, which were court hearings, in York on November 23. When he arrived, he found out that Hugh Taylor was also going to be tried.

His Support for Father Taylor

Marmaduke Bowes was openly Catholic before his death. On November 26, 1585, he was executed. His crime was helping or "harboring" Father Hugh Taylor. He was the first ordinary person, not a priest, to be executed under the new law for helping a Catholic priest.

Their Legacy

Hugh Taylor and Marmaduke Bowes are remembered as important figures in Catholic history. They were both recognized as "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II on November 22, 1987. They are part of a group known as the Eighty-five martyrs of England, Scotland and Wales. Their lives remind us of a time when people faced great danger for their religious beliefs.

See also

• Catholic Church in the United Kingdom
• Douai Martyrs