Saint Philip Evans S.J. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Priest and Martyr | |
| Born | c. 1645 Monmouth,Wales |
| Died | 22 July 1679 (aged 33 - 34) Pwllhalog, nearCardiff,Wales |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 15 December 1929 byPope Pius XI |
| Canonized | 25 October 1970 byPope Paul VI |
| Feast | 23 July, 25 October |
| Attributes | noose around neck, knife in chest, harp |
| Patronage | Tennis, tennis players |
Philip Evans, SJ andJohn Lloyd wereWelsh Catholic priests killed in the aftermath of the allegedPopish Plot. They are among theForty Martyrs of England and Wales.
Philip Evans was born inMonmouth in 1645, and educated atJesuit College of St. Omer (inArtois, now in France). He joined theSociety of Jesus inWatten on 7 September 1665, and was ordained atLiège (now in Belgium) and sent toSouth Wales as amissionary in 1675.[1][2]
He worked in Wales for four years,[1] and despite the official anti-Catholic policy no action was taken against him. When theOates' scare swept the country both Lloyd and Evans were caught up in the aftermath.[3] In November 1678John Arnold, ofLlanvihangel Court nearAbergavenny, ajustice of the peace and hunter of priests, offered a reward of £200 (equivalent to £40,000 in 2023)[4] for his arrest.
Despite the manifest dangers Evans steadfastly refused to leave his flock. He was arrested at the home of Christopher Turberville atSker, Glamorgan, on 4 December 1678. Ironically the posse which arrested him is said to have been led by Turberville's brother, the notoriouspriest hunterEdward Turberville.
Saint John Lloyd | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Priest and Martyr | |
| Born | Breconshire,Wales |
| Died | 22 July 1679 (aged 33 - 34) Pwllhalog, nearCardiff,Wales |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 15 December 1929 byPope Pius XI |
| Canonized | 25 October 1970 byPope Paul VI |
| Feast | 23 July, 25 October |
John Lloyd, a Welshman and asecular priest (a priest not associated with any religious order), was aBreconshire man.[5] He was educated at St. Omer's[6] and from 1649 at theEnglish College, Valladolid, Spain.[7] He took the 'missionary oath' on 16 October 1649 to participate in the English Mission. Sent to Wales in 1654 to minister to covert Catholics, he lived his vocation while constantly on the run for 24 years. He was arrested at Turberville's house atPenlline, Glamorgan, on 20 November 1678, and imprisoned inCardiff Gaol. There he was joined by the Jesuit, Philip Evans.[6]
They waited five months before going to trial on May 3, 1679 because the prosecution could not find witnesses to testify that they were indeed priests.[8] Both priests were brought to trial inCardiff on Monday, 5 May 1679.[6] Neither was charged with being associated with the plot concocted by Oates. Nonetheless, they were tried for being priests and coming toEngland and Wales contrary to the provisions ofJesuits, etc. Act 1584, and were declared guilty oftreason for exercising their priesthood.
The executions took so long to be scheduled that it began to appear that they might not take place. The priests were allowed a good deal of liberty, even to leaving the prison for recreation.[3] The executions took place in Pwllhalog, nearCardiff, on 22 July 1679.[6] Two plaques mark the site at what is now the junction of Crwys Road and Richmond Road inRoath, Cardiff, still known as "Death Junction".[9]
Evans was the first to die. He addressed the gathering in bothWelsh and English saying, ‘Adieu, Father Lloyd! Though only for a little time, for we shall soon meet again'. Lloyd spoke very briefly. "I never was a good speaker in my life. I shall only say that I die in the true Catholic and apostolic faith, according to these words in the Creed, I believe in the holy Catholic Church; and with those three virtues: faith, hope and charity."[10]
On 25 October 1970, both John Lloyd and Philip Evans werecanonised byPope Paul VI.[1] Although they died on 22 July, this date is kept by the Catholic Church as the feast day ofMary Magdalen, so their jointfeast day was assigned to 23 July. The same date is the assigned day ofBridget of Sweden, who was later designated one of sixpatron saints of Europe by PopeJohn Paul II. This means that while churches dedicated to John Lloyd or Philip Evans can keep their feast on 23 July, other churches must commemorate Bridget on that date. A voluntary celebration for John Lloyd and Philip Evans may be kept on a nearby date at the discretion of local communities.[11]
The collective feast day of theForty Martyrs of England and Wales was formerly kept on 25 October. In England they are now celebrated together withbeatified martyrs on 4 May.[12] In Wales, 25 October is the feast of the "Six Welsh Martyrs and their companions".[11]
