John Fenwick (Jesuit)
Encyclopedia
Blessed John Fenwick, real surname Caldwell (1628–1679) was an English Jesuit, executed at the time of the fabricated Popish Plot
. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1929 by Pope Pius XI
.
, of Protestant parents who disowned him when he became a Catholic convert. He took his course of humanities at the College of St. Omer, was sent to Liège for his theology, and entered the Society of Jesus at Watten
on 28 September 1660. Having completed his studies, he was ordained priest, and spent several years, from 1662, as procurator or agent at the College of St. Omer. He was made a professed father in 1676, and was sent to England the same year.
He resided in London as procurator of St. Omer's College, and was also one of the missionary fathers there. In 1678 labours he was summoned, on the information of Titus Oates
, to appear before the privy council, and committed to Newgate Prison
. He was tried for high treason
with William Ireland, but as the evidence was insufficient, he was remanded back to prison. He was arraigned a second time at the Old Bailey
on 13 June 1679, before all the judges of England, together with four other Jesuit fathers (John Gavan
, William Harcourt, Thomas Whitebread and Anthony Turner }. Oates and Stephen Dugdale
were witnesses against them, and in accordance with the direction of Lord Chief Justice William Scroggs
the jury found the prisoners guilty. They suffered death at Tyburn
on 20 June 1679. Fenwick's remains were buried in the churchyard of St. Giles-in-the-Fields.
An account of the trial and condemnation of the five Jesuits for High Treason, in conspiring the Death of the King, the Subversion of the Government and Protestant Religion was published by authority at London, 1679.
Popish Plot
The Popish Plot was a fictitious conspiracy concocted by Titus Oates that gripped England, Wales and Scotland in Anti-Catholic hysteria between 1678 and 1681. Oates alleged that there existed an extensive Catholic conspiracy to assassinate Charles II, accusations that led to the execution of at...
. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
.
Life
He was born in county DurhamCounty Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, of Protestant parents who disowned him when he became a Catholic convert. He took his course of humanities at the College of St. Omer, was sent to Liège for his theology, and entered the Society of Jesus at Watten
Watten, Nord
-Sights:The village is famous for its old ruined abbey, and for its mill, which was restored in the 1990s. These two buildings are located on the "Mountain of Watten" . Its church dates from the thirteenth century.-References:* *...
on 28 September 1660. Having completed his studies, he was ordained priest, and spent several years, from 1662, as procurator or agent at the College of St. Omer. He was made a professed father in 1676, and was sent to England the same year.
He resided in London as procurator of St. Omer's College, and was also one of the missionary fathers there. In 1678 labours he was summoned, on the information of Titus Oates
Titus Oates
Titus Oates was an English perjurer who fabricated the "Popish Plot", a supposed Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles II.-Early life:...
, to appear before the privy council, and committed to Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
. He was tried for high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
with William Ireland, but as the evidence was insufficient, he was remanded back to prison. He was arraigned a second time at the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
on 13 June 1679, before all the judges of England, together with four other Jesuit fathers (John Gavan
John Gavan
Blessed John Gavan was an English Jesuit and victim of the Popish Plot, wrongfully executed for conspiracy to murder Charles II. He was beatified in 1929.- Life :...
, William Harcourt, Thomas Whitebread and Anthony Turner }. Oates and Stephen Dugdale
Stephen Dugdale
Stephen Dugdale was an informer, and self-proclaimed discoverer of parts of the Popish Plot . He perjured himself on numerous occasions, giving false testimony.-Life:...
were witnesses against them, and in accordance with the direction of Lord Chief Justice William Scroggs
William Scroggs
Sir William Scroggs , Lord Chief Justice of England, was the son of an Oxford landowner; an account of him being the son of a butcher of sufficient means to give his son a university education is merely a rumour....
the jury found the prisoners guilty. They suffered death at Tyburn
Tyburn
Tyburn is a former village just outside the then boundaries of London that was best known as a place of public execution.Tyburn may also refer to:* Tyburn , river and historical water source in London...
on 20 June 1679. Fenwick's remains were buried in the churchyard of St. Giles-in-the-Fields.
An account of the trial and condemnation of the five Jesuits for High Treason, in conspiring the Death of the King, the Subversion of the Government and Protestant Religion was published by authority at London, 1679.