Richard Thirkeld
Encyclopedia
Richard Thirkeld was an English Roman Catholic priest. He is a Catholic martyr.
, England
.
From Queen's College, Oxford, where he was in 1564-5, he went to Reims
, where he was ordained priest, 18 April 1579.
He left 23 May for the English mission, where he ministered in or about York, and acted as confessor to Margaret Clitheroe. On the eve of the Annunciation, 1583, he was arrested while visiting one of the Catholic prisoners in Ousebridge Kidcote, York. He at once confessed his priesthood, both to the pursuivant
s, who arrested him, and to the mayor before whom he was brought, and for the night was lodged in the house of the high sheriff
. The next day his trial took place, at which he managed to appear in cassock
and biretta
.
The charge was one of having reconciled the Queen's subjects to the Church of Rome. He was found guilty on 27 May and condemned 28 May. He was executed at York
on 29 May 1583.
Six of his letters survive, and were summarized by Bede Camm
.
Life
Thirkeld was born at Coniscliffe, DurhamDurham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, England
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...
.
From Queen's College, Oxford, where he was in 1564-5, he went to Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, where he was ordained priest, 18 April 1579.
He left 23 May for the English mission, where he ministered in or about York, and acted as confessor to Margaret Clitheroe. On the eve of the Annunciation, 1583, he was arrested while visiting one of the Catholic prisoners in Ousebridge Kidcote, York. He at once confessed his priesthood, both to the pursuivant
Pursuivant
A pursuivant or, more correctly, pursuivant of arms, is a junior officer of arms. Most pursuivants are attached to official heraldic authorities, such as the College of Arms in London or the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. In the mediaeval era, many great nobles employed their own officers of...
s, who arrested him, and to the mayor before whom he was brought, and for the night was lodged in the house of the high sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
. The next day his trial took place, at which he managed to appear in cassock
Cassock
The cassock, an item of clerical clothing, is an ankle-length robe worn by clerics of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Church, Lutheran Church and some ministers and ordained officers of Presbyterian and Reformed churches. Ankle-length garment is the meaning of the...
and biretta
Biretta
The biretta is a square cap with three or four peaks or horns, sometimes surmounted by a tuft. Traditionally the three peaked biretta is worn by Roman Catholic clergy and some Anglican and Lutheran clergy. The four peaked biretta is worn as academic dress by those holding a doctoral degree from a...
.
The charge was one of having reconciled the Queen's subjects to the Church of Rome. He was found guilty on 27 May and condemned 28 May. He was executed at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
on 29 May 1583.
Six of his letters survive, and were summarized by Bede Camm
Bede Camm
Reginald Bede Camm was an English Benedictine martyrologist. A monk of Erdington Abbey, he is known for works on the English Catholic martyrs.-Life:...
.