Saint John Kemble
Saint John Kemble (born January 2, 1599 AD in St. Weonards, Herefordshire, England; died August 22, 1679 AD in Hereford, England) was an English Catholic priest who was hanged at Hereford at the age of 80 — making him one of the oldest men ever executed for his faith in English history. He had served the Catholic community in Herefordshire for fifty-four years. He is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales canonized in 1970. His feast day is August 22 (or October 25 with the group).
Stored in Cargo: Saint John Kemble
| Saint John Kemble | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 22; October 25 (with Forty Martyrs) |
| Profession | Secular Catholic priest; served 54 years as underground priest in Herefordshire |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; secular clergy; recusant priest in Herefordshire 1625–1679 |
| Patronage | Herefordshire; priests under persecution; the elderly; those who face death serenely; Forty Martyrs of England and Wales |
| Attributes | Pipe (his ''Kemble's Cap'' before execution); hangman's rope; priest's vestments; old age |
| Birthplace | St. Weonards, Herefordshire, England |
| Death Place | Hereford, Herefordshire, England |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; hanged at Hereford on August 22, 1679, at the age of 80, during the anti-Catholic hysteria of the Titus Oates Plot |
| Primary Shrine | Church of St. Francis Xavier, Hereford, England — his relic hand; also St. Weonards, Herefordshire — his birthplace |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast October 25 (with the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales); individual feast August 22 |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar |
Biography
John Kemble was born on January 2, 1599 in St. Weonards, Herefordshire. He was ordained a Catholic priest at Douai College on the Continent (1625) and returned to England to serve the recusant Catholic community of his home county — a ministry he continued for fifty-four years.
He based himself at the family home, Pembridge Castle near Welsh Newton, and served the scattered Catholic gentry and their households throughout Herefordshire, saying Mass in private houses, hearing confessions, and administering the sacraments clandestinely. He was known and loved by the local community, Catholic and Protestant alike, for his gentle manner and long service.
In 1678, the fabricated Popish Plot accusations of Titus Oates triggered a wave of anti-Catholic hysteria. Kemble, now 79, was arrested. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the crime of being an ordained Catholic priest. He was 80 years old at his execution.
Before going to the gallows on August 22, 1679, he asked permission to finish his rosary, smoke his pipe, and drink a glass of wine with the sheriff. Both requests were granted. He mounted the gallows in complete serenity. The pipe he smoked — Kemble's Cap — became a local legend.
His hand was preserved as a relic by local Catholics and remains at Hereford. Pope Paul VI canonized him on October 25, 1970.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: St. Weonards, Herefordshire, England
Death location: Hereford, Herefordshire, England
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to John Kemble have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| He Was Martyred at 80 Years Old | Under 5 minutes | The Saint of the Day Podcast |
Shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Church of St. Francis Xavier, Hereford — his relic hand; principal local shrine.
Feast day
August 22; October 25 (with the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales)
Veneration
Saint John Kemble is venerated as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, canonized October 25, 1970. He is the oldest of the English Reformation martyrs at time of execution.
Prayers
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Intercessory
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