Robert Middleton
Jesuit priest and martyr at Lancaster
Feast: 3 April (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
At Polizzi in Sicily, Blessed Gandolf of Binasco Sacchi, priest of the Order of Minors, who led an austere life of solitude and travelled through the neighbouring regions to preach the word of God there.
At Penna in the Marches, Blessed John, priest, who was among the first companions of Saint Francis and, sent to France, spread there the pattern of the gospel life.
At Lancaster in England, Blesseds Robert Middleton, of the Society of Jesus, and Thurstan Hunt, priests and martyrs: the second was arrested for having tried to free the first while he was being moved; condemned to death together under Queen Elizabeth I for their priesthood, they came through torments to the right hand of Christ.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
The Roman Martyrology remembers him on 3 April as a Jesuit priest condemned to death at Lancaster under Queen Elizabeth I for his priesthood.
Connected on this site
- Thurston Hunt Blessed“He was tried and executed with Robert Middleton, also a priest.” — Wikipedia
- Roman Martyrology, 3 April (Italian Bishops' Conference, Santo del giorno)
- Wikidata R9697ed7a — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.