Blessed William Marsden

Memorial

• 25 April

Profile

Convert to Catholicism; entered the English College at Rheims, France in 1580. Ordained at Rheims with his friend and co-worker Blessed Robert Anderton. Sailed for England as a home missioner, but their ship was driven off course, and wrecked on the Isle of Wight. Arrested soon after, they were charged with being priests on English soil. They argued that they had been shipwrecked, and had no choice about being there; due to the appeal, they were sent to London for further interrogation. There they acknowledged Elizabeth as their lawful queen in temporal matters, but would not not in matters spiritual. Martyred.

Born

• c.1560 at Lancashire, England

Died

• hanged, drawn, and quartered on 25 April 1586 on the beach of the Isle of Wight, England

Venerated

• 8 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI (decree of martyrdom)

Beatified

• 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI

Canonized

• if you have information relevant to the canonization of Blessed Robert, 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
• Institute of Saint Clement I Pope and Martyr
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Blessed William Marsden“. Saints.SQPN.com. 24 April 2013. Web. 20 June 2013. <>