German Gardiner

Who they were

German Gardiner, a layman and secretary to Bishop Stephen Gardiner, defended the old Faith in writing and was encouraged by the example of the martyrs, especially St Thomas More.

He was condemned for denying the king's title of Supreme Head of the Church, and executed at Tyburn on 7 March 1544, the last martyr under Henry VIII. A man condemned with him was pardoned on recanting; Gardiner stood firm.

The miracles

As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.

Why that counted as sanctity

A layman who followed St Thomas More in refusing the king's supremacy over the Church.

Connected on this site

• Thomas Cranmer Saint
  “German Gardiner (Germain, Jermyn) (date of birth unknown; executed at Tyburn, 7 March 1544) was a Roman Catholic layman and nephew to Stephen Gardiner who became involved in the Prebendaries' Plot against Thomas Cranmer.” — Wikipedia
• Thomas More Saint
  “His other companions at the bar were John Larke, and John Ireland, a priest who had once been Thomas More's chaplain.” — Wikipedia
• John Larke Blessed
  “His other companions at the bar were John Larke, and John Ireland, a priest who had once been Thomas More's chaplain.” — Wikipedia