Blessed John Larke was an English priest and martyr, who was executed during the reign of Henry VIII

Henry VIII of England

Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...

. He was a personal friend of Thomas More

Thomas More

Sir Thomas More , also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII of England and, for three years toward the end of his life, Lord Chancellor...

.

Larke has been styled a doctor, but where he received his degree is unknown. He served as rector of St. Ethelburga's Bishopsgate, London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, from 30 January 1504, until his resignation in 1542; rector of Woodford, Essex

Essex

Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...

 from 18 January 1526, until his resignation in the following April; and rector of Chelsea

Chelsea, London

Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...

, to which he was appointed by More, from 19 March 1530 until his arrest. He was indicted on 15 February 1544, with John Ireland (a priest), German Gardiner

German Gardiner

German Gardiner was a Roman Catholic layman, nephew to Stephen Gardiner, who became involved in the Prebendaries' Plot against Thomas Cranmer....

, and John Heywood

John Heywood

John Heywood was an English writer known for his plays, poems, and collection of proverbs. Although he is best known as a playwright, he was also active as a musician and composer, though no works survive.-Life:...

. All were condemned, but Heywood recanted on the hurdle and lived to give testimony against Cranmer.

The other three, along with Robert Singleton

Robert Singleton

Robert Singleton , also known as John, was an English Roman Catholic priest, executed on a treason charge. He is considered a Catholic martyr by Antonio Possevino, in his Apparatus Sacer.-Life:...

, a priest whose cause of arrest is unknown, were executed on 7 March 1544. Larke was beatified in 1886 by Pope Leo XIII.