Profile
Studied for the priesthood at Douai, France, beginning at age 39. Ordained at Binche, Hainault (in modern Belgium) on 11 June 1576. Two of his four brothers followed him into the priesthood. John returned to England on 7 November 1576 as a missioner to London. Joined the Jesuits at some point; though the date has been lost it was probably close to the time of his arrest.
In November 1577, he performed an exorcism on one of his parishioners; during the ceremony, the person predicted Father John’s impending doom. A week later, in the evening of 1 December 1577, John was arrested while at prayers, charged with Catholicism. On 30 January 1578 he managed to celebrate Mass in Newgate prison, apparently with materials that had been smuggled in. Condemned on 1 February 1578 for the treason of Catholic priesthood and refusal to acknowledge the Queen‘s supremacy in spiritual matters; he was thrown into the pit of the Tower of London for two days, and then excuted. His dying words were “I forgive the queen and all the authors of my death.”
Born
- hanged, drawn, and quartered on 3 February 1578 at Tyburn, London England
- if you have information relevant to the canonization of Blessed John, contact
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
39 Eccleston Square
London SW1V 1BX, UNITED KINGDOM
Additional Information
- Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
- Catholic Online
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- Katherine Rabenstein
- Hagiography Circle
- New Catholic Dictionary
- Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
- The 105 Martyrs of Tyburn
MLA Citation
- “Blessed John Nelson“. Saints.SQPN.com. 17 May 2013. Web. 23 May 2013. <>