The Oxford Martyrs Trail
In the footsteps of Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, and Nicolas Ridley
Jan 18, 2009
The arrest of Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, and Nicolas Ridley
When Queen Mary took the English throne in 1553, she was determined to return the country to Catholicism after the separation brought about by her father, Henry VIII. One of her first acts was to round up the leaders of the Anglican Church, among whom were Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury; Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worchester; and Nicolas Ridley, Bishop of London. The three were imprisoned for a while in the tower of London, before being sent to Oxford for their fate to be decided.
The Oxford Martyrs Trail
Today, it is possible to see several sights associated with the Martyrs during an afternoon in the centre of Oxford.
The University Church of St. Mary the Virgin
The first stop on the tour is The University Church of St. Mary the Virgin on the Oxford High Street. It was here that the public disputation of the Marytrs took place. Although today we might like to call this a “trial”, it was really just a public forum where both sides could have their say. There was certainly no chance of the three being found innocent. Today, there is a stone plaque in the church that commemorates all Oxford Martyrs, Protestant and Catholic who died in Oxford.
St. Michael at the North Gate
From St. Mary the Virgin it is just a short walk to another famous Oxford landmark, St. Michael at the North Gate. This small church includes as part of its structure Oxford’s oldest building, the Saxon tower. At one time, this tower was pressed up against the North Gate and the Bocardo prison, where the three Bishops were held while awaiting their execution. Although the prison and the North Gate are both long gone, if you pay the small entry fee to climb the tower, you can see the ancient wooden door of the cell that contained the Martyrs.
The Cross on Broadstreet
Just a few dozen yards from the church, in the middle of one of Oxford’s busy pedestrian thoroughfares, there is a gap in the paved street which shows the cobblestones underneath. In the midst of these cobbles is a black, stone cross. It was on this spot on October 16, 1555 that Hugh Latimer and Nicolas Ridley were burned to death, both holding strong in their faith. Thomas Cranmer would die in the same way on the same spot on March 21, 1556.
The Martyr’s Memorial
A further few dozen yards away, right in the middle of a busy intersection, stands the lofty stone spire of the Martyr’s Memorial. This memorial, which contains statues of the three Bishops, was built in 1841, funded by donations from the general public.
The story of the Oxford Martyrs is just one chapter in the horrible religious conflict that brought continuous strife to the country after the establishment of the Anglican Church. Though Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley may be among the most famous Martyrs, they are but three of the hundreds, both Protestant and Catholic who died for their faith in the times of the Tudors and Stuarts.
