John Eynon facts for kids

John Eynon was a monk who lived a long time ago in England. He was part of a group called the Order of Saint Benedict. Monks are men who dedicate their lives to God and often live in special communities called monasteries.

John Eynon also worked as a pastor (a church leader) at a church called St Giles in a town called Reading.

A Time of Big Changes

During John Eynon's time, England was going through huge changes. The king, King Henry VIII, decided to take control of the churches and monasteries. This event is known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Some people, like Robert Aske, protested against the king's actions. They wrote down their reasons in a message called a proclamation. These messages were shared around the country. John Eynon was one of the people who copied this protest message.

Standing Up for His Beliefs

When King Henry VIII wanted to take over the churches, John Eynon refused to give up his church. He believed it was wrong to surrender it to the king's officials. Because he stood up for his beliefs, he was accused of going against the king. This was a very serious charge back then.

On November 15, 1539, John Eynon was executed near Reading Abbey. He was executed along with two other men: Hugh Faringdon and John Rugg. John Rugg was another church official who had retired to live at Reading Abbey.

Remembering John Eynon

John Eynon and the other two men were later recognized as martyrs. A martyr is someone who dies for their beliefs, especially their religious faith. They were honored by Pope Leo XIII in 1895. This honor is called beatification, which means they were declared "Blessed."

Today, John Eynon is remembered in several ways. There is a special carved wooden plaque at St Giles' Church, where he used to be the pastor. There is also a beautiful stained glass window in St James' Church.

He is also shown in a painting from 1917 called The Martyrdom of Hugh Faringdon, last Abbot of Reading. This painting is now kept at the Museum of Reading.