John Rigby
Encyclopedia
Saint John Rigby was an English
Roman Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I
. He is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
. (He is called "Thomas" Rigby in The Autobiography of a Hunted Priest, p. 81 footnote; Pellegrini & Cudahy, New York, 1952, a story about the Jesuit priest John Gerard.)
Rigby was born circa 1570 at Harrock Hall, Eccleston
, near Chorley
, Lancashire
, the fifth or sixth son of Nicholas Rigby, by his wife Mary (née Breres).
In 1600 Rigby was working for Sir Edmund Huddleston, whose daughter Mrs. Fortescue was summoned to the Old Bailey
for recusancy
. Because she was ill, Rigby appeared for her, was compelled to confess his Catholicism, and sent to Newgate
. The next day, the feast day of St Valentine, he signed a confession saying that since he had been reconciled to the Roman Catholic faith by Saint John Jones
, a Franciscan
priest, he had not attended Anglican services. He was sent back to Newgate and later transferred to the White Lion. Twice he was given the chance to recant, but twice refused. His sentence was carried out. On his way to execution, the transport carrying Rigby was stopped and Rigby again asked to conform to the Church of England, to which he replied: "I am a bachelor; and more than that I am a maid." The Earl then asked Rigby for his prayers. Rigby was executed by hanging at St Thomas Waterings on June 21, 1600.
, the priest who had reconciled Rigby, had died at the same place Rigby had died, St Thomas Waterings, two years earlier, on July 12, 1598.
in Orrell
, Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
, Greater Manchester
is named for St. John Rigby. One of its buildings, Harrock House, is named for Rigby's birth place.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Roman Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. He is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales are a group of men and women who were executed for treason and related offences in the Kingdom of England between 1535 and 1679...
. (He is called "Thomas" Rigby in The Autobiography of a Hunted Priest, p. 81 footnote; Pellegrini & Cudahy, New York, 1952, a story about the Jesuit priest John Gerard.)
Rigby was born circa 1570 at Harrock Hall, Eccleston
Eccleston, Lancashire
-Mr.Asia's Murder:Christopher Marty Johnstone was a New Zealand drug trafficker. The former Takapuna Grammar pupil was dubbed "Mr Asia" by the Auckland Star newspaper in August 1978 in a series of articles by Pat Booth....
, near Chorley
Chorley
Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, the fifth or sixth son of Nicholas Rigby, by his wife Mary (née Breres).
In 1600 Rigby was working for Sir Edmund Huddleston, whose daughter Mrs. Fortescue was summoned to 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...
for recusancy
Recusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
. Because she was ill, Rigby appeared for her, was compelled to confess his Catholicism, and sent to Newgate
Newgate
Newgate at the west end of Newgate Street was one of the historic seven gates of London Wall round the City of London and one of the six which date back to Roman times. From it a Roman road led west to Silchester...
. The next day, the feast day of St Valentine, he signed a confession saying that since he had been reconciled to the Roman Catholic faith by Saint John Jones
Saint John Jones
Saint John Jones, O.F.M.,, also known as John Buckley, John Griffith, or Godfrey Maurice, was a Franciscan friar, Catholic priest and martyr. He was born at Clynnog Fawr, Caernarfonshire , Wales and executed 12 July 1598...
, a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
priest, he had not attended Anglican services. He was sent back to Newgate and later transferred to the White Lion. Twice he was given the chance to recant, but twice refused. His sentence was carried out. On his way to execution, the transport carrying Rigby was stopped and Rigby again asked to conform to the Church of England, to which he replied: "I am a bachelor; and more than that I am a maid." The Earl then asked Rigby for his prayers. Rigby was executed by hanging at St Thomas Waterings on June 21, 1600.
Canonization
He was canonized in 1970; his feast day is October 25. Saint John JonesSaint John Jones
Saint John Jones, O.F.M.,, also known as John Buckley, John Griffith, or Godfrey Maurice, was a Franciscan friar, Catholic priest and martyr. He was born at Clynnog Fawr, Caernarfonshire , Wales and executed 12 July 1598...
, the priest who had reconciled Rigby, had died at the same place Rigby had died, St Thomas Waterings, two years earlier, on July 12, 1598.
Legacy
St John Rigby Roman Catholic Sixth Form CollegeSt John Rigby College (Wigan)
St John Rigby College is a sixth form college in the Orrell district of Wigan, Greater Manchester situated in a estate surrounded by the Lancashire countryside...
in Orrell
Orrell, Greater Manchester
Orrell is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The area is contiguous to the town of Wigan itself and the centre of the district is situated to the west of the town centre...
, Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. It is named after its largest component town, Wigan and also includes the towns of Leigh, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Ince-in-Makerfield, and Hindley. The borough was formed in 1974 and is an...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
is named for St. John Rigby. One of its buildings, Harrock House, is named for Rigby's birth place.