William Spenser

Who they were

William Spenser, a fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, was convinced of the Catholic faith and in 1582 left for Reims with other Trinity men. He was ordained in 1583 and sent to England in 1584.

He reconciled his parents and uncle to the Church, and voluntarily shut himself in York Castle to help the prisoners. Condemned merely for being a priest, he was executed at York on 24 September 1589.

The miracles

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

Why that counted as sanctity

A priest who went into prison by choice to serve the prisoners.