Canterbury Martyrs
The Canterbury Martyrs were 16th-century English Protestant martyrs. They were executed for heresy in Canterbury, Kent and were the last Protestants burnt during the reign of Mary I. Their story is recorded in Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
1555
On 12 July 1555, John Bland, John Frankesh, Nicholas Sheterden, and Humphrey Middleton were burnt together. According to Foxe, they "resigned themselves with Christian fortitude, fervently praying that God would receive them into his heavenly kingdom."On 23 August, William Coker, William Hopper, Henry Laurence, Richard Collier, Richard Wright, and William Stere were burnt.
On 6 September, George Catmer of Hythe, Kent, Robert Streater of Hythe, Kent, Anthony Burward of Calete, George Brodbridge of Bromfield, Kent, and James Tutty of Brenchley, Kent were burnt.
On 30 November, John Webbe, George Roper, and Gregory Parke were burnt.
1556
On 31 January 1556, John Lomas of Tenterden, Kent, Agnes Snoth of Smarden, Kent, Anne Wright alias Champnes, Joan Sole of Horton, Kent and Joan Catmer of Hythe, Kent were burned alive at the stake in Wincheap, Canterbury. A monument marks the spot on the road now called 'Martyrs Field Road'.1557
On 15 January 1557, Stephen Kempe of Norgate/ Northgate, Canterbury, William Waterer of Biddenden, Kent, William Prowting of Thornham, Kent, William Lowick of Cranbrooke, Kent, Thomas Hudson of Selling, Kent, and William Hay of Hythe, Kent were burnt.On 19 June, John Fishcock/Jhon Fiscoke, Nicholas White, Nicholas Pardue/Perdue, Barbara Final, Bradbridge's Widow, probably of Tenterden, Kent and probably the widow of Martin Bradbridge who was burnt on 16 January 1557,, and Alice Benden, possibly also referred to as 'Benson's Wife', of Staplehurst, Kent were burnt.