Philip Evans and John Lloyd
Encyclopedia
Saints Philip Evans and John Lloyd were Welsh
Roman Catholic priests, who died for their faith. They are both among the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
.
was born in Monmouth
, 1645, was educated at St Omer he joined the Society of Jesus
, 7 September 1665 in Watten, and was ordained at Liège and sent to South Wales
as a missionary
in 1675.
He was a zealous priest
and despite the official anti-Catholic policy no action was taken against him. Then the Oates' scare swept the country and both Father Lloyd and Father Evans were caught up in the aftermath.
In November 1678 a John Arnold, of Llanvihangel Court near Abergavenny
, a justice of the peace
and hunter of priests, offered a reward of £200 (an enormous sum then) for his arrest. Despite the manifest dangers Father Evans steadfastly refused to leave his flock.
He was arrested at the home of a Mr. Christopher Turberville at Sker, Glamorgan
on 4 December 1678.
, Spain, entering in 1649. He took the 'missionary oath' on 16 October 1649 to return to England. Sent to Wales in 1654 to minister to covert Catholics, he lived his vocation while constantly on the run for 24 years. He was arrested at Mr Turberville's house at Penlline, Glamorganshire
, 20 November, 1678, and thrown into Cardiff jail. There he was joined by the Jesuit, Philip Evans.
on Monday, 5 May 1679. Neither was charged with being associated with the "plot" concocted by Oates. Nonetheless, they were tried for being priests and coming into the principality of Wales
contrary to the provisions of the law, and were declared guilty of 'treason
' for exercising their ministerial priesthood.
on 22 July 1679
Saint Philip Evans was the first to die. He addressed the gathering in both Welsh
and English
saying, ‘Adieu, Father Lloyd! Though only for a little time, for we shall soon meet again'. Saint John Lloyd spoke very briefly saying, ‘I never was a good speaker in my life'.
. Although they died on 22 July, this date is kept by the Catholic Church as the day of St Mary Magdalen, so their joint feast day was assigned to July 23. The same date is the assigned day of St Bridget of Sweden
, who was later designated one of six patron saints of Europe by Pope John Paul II. Throughout Europe, including Wales, St Bridget must now be kept with the rank of a feast. This means that while churches dedicated to St John Lloyd or St Philip Evans can keep their feast on 23 July, other churches must commemorate St Bridget on that date. A voluntary celebration for St John Lloyd and St Philip Evans may be kept on a nearby date at the discretion of local communities.
' collective feast day was formerly kept on 25 October, but in England are now celebrated together with beatified martyrs on 4 May. In Wales, 25 October is the feast of the 'Six Welsh Martyrs and their companions'.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
Roman Catholic priests, who died for their faith. They are both among 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...
.
Father Philip Evans
This revered martyrMartyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
was born in Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
, 1645, was educated at St Omer he joined the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, 7 September 1665 in Watten, and was ordained at Liège and sent to South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in 1675.
He was a zealous priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and despite the official anti-Catholic policy no action was taken against him. Then the Oates' scare swept the country and both Father Lloyd and Father Evans were caught up in the aftermath.
In November 1678 a John Arnold, of Llanvihangel Court near Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
, a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and hunter of priests, offered a reward of £200 (an enormous sum then) for his arrest. Despite the manifest dangers Father Evans steadfastly refused to leave his flock.
He was arrested at the home of a Mr. Christopher Turberville at Sker, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
on 4 December 1678.
Father John Lloyd
Father John Lloyd, a Welshman and a secular priest (i.e., a priest not associated with any religious order), was a Breconshire man. He was educated first in Ghent, then at the English College, ValladolidEnglish College, Valladolid
The Royal English and Welsh College, Valladolid, under the patronage of St Alban, was founded in 1589 during the protestant reformation for the training of Catholic priests for the English and Welsh Mission....
, Spain, entering in 1649. He took the 'missionary oath' on 16 October 1649 to return to England. Sent to Wales in 1654 to minister to covert Catholics, he lived his vocation while constantly on the run for 24 years. He was arrested at Mr Turberville's house at Penlline, Glamorganshire
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, 20 November, 1678, and thrown into Cardiff jail. There he was joined by the Jesuit, Philip Evans.
Trial
Both priests were brought to trial in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
on Monday, 5 May 1679. Neither was charged with being associated with the "plot" concocted by Oates. Nonetheless, they were tried for being priests and coming into the principality of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
contrary to the provisions of the law, and were declared guilty of 'treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
' for exercising their ministerial priesthood.
Executions
The executions took place in Pwllhalog, CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
on 22 July 1679
Saint Philip Evans was the first to die. He addressed the gathering in both Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
saying, ‘Adieu, Father Lloyd! Though only for a little time, for we shall soon meet again'. Saint John Lloyd spoke very briefly saying, ‘I never was a good speaker in my life'.
Canonisation and Feast Day
In 1970, both John Lloyd and Philip Evans, S.J. were canonised by Pope Paul VIPope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. Although they died on 22 July, this date is kept by the Catholic Church as the day of St Mary Magdalen, so their joint feast day was assigned to July 23. The same date is the assigned day of St Bridget of Sweden
Bridget of Sweden
Bridget of Sweden Bridget of Sweden Bridget of Sweden (1303 – 23 July 1373; also Birgitta of Vadstena, Saint Birgitta , was a mystic and saint, and founder of the Bridgettines nuns and monks after the death of her husband of twenty years...
, who was later designated one of six patron saints of Europe by Pope John Paul II. Throughout Europe, including Wales, St Bridget must now be kept with the rank of a feast. This means that while churches dedicated to St John Lloyd or St Philip Evans can keep their feast on 23 July, other churches must commemorate St Bridget on that date. A voluntary celebration for St John Lloyd and St Philip Evans may be kept on a nearby date at the discretion of local communities.
Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
The Forty Martyrs of England and WalesForty 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...
' collective feast day was formerly kept on 25 October, but in England are now celebrated together with beatified martyrs on 4 May. In Wales, 25 October is the feast of the 'Six Welsh Martyrs and their companions'.