Blessed Hugh Cook
Blessed Hugh Cook (born c. 1460 AD in England; died November 15, 1539 AD in Reading, Berkshire, England) was an English Catholic Benedictine monk who served as the last Abbot of Reading Abbey. He was executed by hanging at the entrance of Reading Abbey under King Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries for refusing to acknowledge the king's Royal Supremacy over the Church. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on May 13, 1895, as one of the Fifty-four Martyrs of England and Wales (later grouped among the Eighty-five Martyrs of England and Wales). His feast day is November 15.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Hugh Cook
| Blessed Hugh Cook | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | November 15 |
| Profession | English Catholic Benedictine monk and abbot; last Abbot of Reading Abbey (1520-1539); refused Royal Supremacy of Henry VIII; hanged drawn and quartered November 15 1539 at Reading Abbey gates; beatified Pope Leo XIII May 13 1895 (Fifty-four Martyrs of England and Wales); feast November 15; also known as Hugh Faringdon |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Benedictine Order (OSB); Reading Abbey; English Reformation martyrs; 16th-century English martyrs; Berkshire England |
| Patronage | Reading; Berkshire; England; English Catholic martyrs; Benedictine monks; abbots; those who resist unjust authority; dissolution of the monasteries; monastic heritage |
| Attributes | Benedictine abbot's vestments (cope and mitre) or Benedictine habit; palm of martyrdom; November 15 feast; Reading Abbey ruins; abbot's staff; Tudor period English dress; noose (martyrdom by hanging) |
| Birthplace | England |
| Death Place | Reading, Berkshire, England |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom by hanging; executed November 15, 1539, at Reading, Berkshire, England; Blessed Hugh Cook (also known as Hugh Faringdon or Hugh Cook Faringdon) was the last Abbot of Reading Abbey; hanged at the entrance of Reading Abbey under Henry VIII for refusing the Royal Supremacy; beatified Pope Leo XIII May 13 1895 (Fifty-four Martyrs of England and Wales); feast November 15 |
| Primary Shrine | Reading Abbey ruins, Reading, Berkshire, England; beatified Pope Leo XIII May 13 1895; feast November 15 |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; November 15 feast for the 85 Martyrs of England and Wales |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Hugh Cook (also known as Hugh Faringdon or Hugh Cook Faringdon) was elected Abbot of Reading Abbey in 1520, succeeding Abbot John Thorne as head of one of the wealthiest Benedictine monasteries in England.
During the English Reformation under Henry VIII, the Act of Supremacy (1534) declared the king Supreme Head of the Church of England, requiring all clergy and religious to swear an oath of allegiance. Hugh Cook refused this oath.
He was arrested and tried for treason. He was executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering at the gates of Reading Abbey on November 15, 1539, along with two of his monks, John Eynon and John Rugg. All three were beatified by Pope Leo XIII on May 13, 1895.
His feast day is November 15.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: England
Death location: Reading, Berkshire, England
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Hugh Cook have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
November 15
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.