John Roche (martyr)

Blessed John Roche
Statue of John Roche in the church of St Etheldreda, Ely Place, London
Martyr
Born	Ireland
Died	30 August 1588 Tyburn, London
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Feast	30 August
Patronage	sailors, mariners, boatmen

John Roche (also known as John Neele or Neale) was a Catholic martyr, born in Ireland, who died in London, England on 30 August 1588.[1]

Life

He helped Margaret Ward arrange the escape of Richard Watson from Bridewell Prison when the boatman she had originally asked to help her refused to do so.[2] Roche exchanged clothes with the prisoner and was arrested in his place.[3] Offered his freedom if he would ask Queen Elizabeth I's pardon and promise to attend a Protestant church, he refused, and was hanged at Tyburn, London on 30 August 1588, along with Ward, Edward Shelley, Richard Martin, and Richard Leigh and Richard Lloyd (alias Flower).[4]

Veneration

Pope Pius XI beatified Roche in 1929. A school in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets was named after him.

Iconography

Usually shown in working-class Elizabethan dress and holding an oar or a miniature boat, he is the patron of sailors, mariners and boatmen.

References

1. Stanton, Richard. A Menology of England and Wales, Burns & Oates, 1887, p. 427 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. Reany, William. "Venerable John Roche", Lives of the English Martyrs, vol.1, (Edwin Burton and J.H. Pollen, eds.), Longmans, Green and Co., 1914, p. 430 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. Burton, Edwin. "St. Margaret Ward." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 19 January 2020 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
4. ""St Margaret Ward", Diocese of Shrewsbury". Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.

Sources

• Patron Saints Index: Blessed John Roche