The Derbyshire martyrs

This is one of the most distinctive, most glorious items in our church: the little side altar located in the martyr's chapel, honouring our three great martyrs, whom we celebrate annually on the 24th of July (the day of their execution, in the year of our Lord 1588), and who are introduced briefly below.

Father Nicholas Garlick [link], born about AD 1555 near Dinting, outside Glossop, later a schoolmaster at Tideswell. Garlick enrolled in 1581 at the exiled English College in Rheims, ordained in 1582 and returned to England the year after. He was arrested and banished to France in 1585 and returned to Rheims; but he promptly turned back and reentered England, leaving traces around the south and west of the country. Father Robert Ludlam [link] was born about 1551 in Derbyshire, and also entered the English College at Rheims, but in 1580, being ordained in 1581, returning to England in 1582. Little more is known of his years of ministry in England, but he was arrested finally in July 1588 with Father Garlick at the home of the recusants FitzHerbert and jailed at Derby. In prison, he and Father Ludlam met Father Richard Simpson [link]. Father Simpson was born in Yorkshire, and had already been arrested as a recusant; after his release, he enrolled at the English College at Douai in 1577, being ordained shortly afterwards, and returning to ministry in Lancashire and Derbyshire. It is said that he was banished in 1585, but promptly returned, later being arrested after being betrayed to the authorities as being a Catholic priest. The Fathers were executed together at S. Mary's bridge, Derby. They were called Venerable in 1888 by the Holy Father Leo XIII, and Blessed by the Holy Father John Paul II in 1987.

It is a delight to see their names on our altar. May they pray for the England that they loved and for the Church in this country.