Richard Fetherston facts for kids

Richard Fetherston (also known as Fetherstone or Featherstone) was an English Roman Catholic priest who lived in the 1500s. He was a church leader called an Archdeacon of Brecon and worked as a Chaplain (a priest who serves a royal family) for Catharine of Aragon, who was the Queen of England. He also taught her daughter, Mary Tudor, who later became Queen Mary I. Richard Fetherston was put to death in 1540. Later, in 1886, he was honored by Pope Leo XIII and declared "blessed" (a step towards becoming a saint) by the Catholic Church.

Who Was Richard Fetherston?

Richard Fetherston was known as a very learned scholar in religious studies. He was called a "Doctor of sacred theology," which means he had a deep understanding of religious teachings.

Standing Up for Queen Catharine

Richard Fetherston was chosen to help Queen Catharine of Aragon during her divorce from King Henry VIII. The King wanted to end his marriage, but Queen Catharine did not agree. Richard Fetherston was one of the religious experts who supported Queen Catharine's side in this important case. He is believed to have written a book defending her marriage, but no copies of this book exist today.

Refusing the King's Demands

In 1529, Richard Fetherston attended a meeting of church leaders called a Convocation. During this meeting, a new law was proposed. This law would say that King Henry VIII's marriage to Queen Catharine was never legal from the start. Richard Fetherston was one of the few people at the meeting who bravely refused to sign this new law. He believed the Pope had the power to allow the marriage, and so it was valid.

Imprisonment and Execution

In 1534, King Henry VIII demanded that everyone take the Oath of Supremacy. This oath meant that people had to agree that the King, not the Pope, was the supreme head of the Church in England. Richard Fetherston refused to take this oath because he believed the Pope was the true head of the Church. Because of his refusal, he was sent to the Tower of London on December 13, 1534. He stayed in prison for several years, until 1540.

On July 30, 1540, Richard Fetherston was executed in Smithfield, London. He was put to death along with two other Catholic religious scholars, Thomas Abel and Edward Powell, who had also advised Queen Catharine. Three other people, Robert Barnes, Thomas Garret, and William Jerome, were also executed on the same day for different religious beliefs.

All six men were pulled through the streets on wooden carts. The three Catholics, including Richard Fetherston, were executed in a harsh way that was common at the time. Their body parts were displayed over the city gates, and their heads were placed on poles on London Bridge. This was a warning to others.