Christopher Bales
English Catholic priest and martyr
Feast: 4 March (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Christopher Bales, born near Darlington about 1564, studied at the English College in Rome and at Reims, where he was ordained in 1587. Sent to England in 1588, he was soon arrested, racked by Topcliffe, and hung by the hands for twenty-four hours at a time, which he bore patiently.
Condemned for treason for being a priest, he asked the judge whether St Augustine of Canterbury was also a traitor. He was executed in Fleet Street on 4 March 1590, telling the people his only 'treason' was his priesthood.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A young priest who bore torture patiently and died for his priesthood.
Connected on this site
- Augustine of Canterbury Saint“Condemned for treason for being a priest, he asked the judge whether St Augustine of Canterbury was also a traitor.” — this site's research
- Nicholas Horner Blessed“Nicholas Horner (died 3 March 1590) was an English Roman Catholic layman, hanged, drawn and quartered because he had "relieved and assisted" Christopher Bales, a seminary priest.” — Wikipedia
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Christopher Bales
- Wikidata Q2966545 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Christopher Bales (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.