William Marsden
Diocesan priest, martyr on the Isle of Wight under Elizabeth I
Who they were
The Roman Martyrology for 25 April places him on the Isle of Wight with Robert Anderton, priests and martyrs condemned to death under Elizabeth I for having entered England as priests, if only by shipwreck, who faced martyrdom with a firm and serene mind.
The apostolic letter ‘Atrocissima tormenta’ in Acta Apostolicae Sedis 22 (1930) lists him as ‘marsden gulielmus sacerdos’ among the hundred and thirty-six martyrs of England whom Pius XI declared blessed on 15 December 1929, a secular priest of the college of Reims killed with Robert Anderton on the Isle of Wight on 25 April 1586.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
Put to death on the Isle of Wight for being a priest in England.
Connected on this site
- Robert Anderton Blessed“Along with his companion, William Marsden, he was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929.” — Wikipedia
- Roman Martyrology, 25 April (Italian Bishops' Conference, Santo del giorno)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis 22 (1930) - beatification letter
- Wikidata R0e56aa08 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.