George Beesley
Catholic priest and martyr
Who they were
George Beesley (also spelled Bisley) came from an old Catholic family of Goosnargh parish in Lancashire. He was ordained priest at the English College at Reims in March 1587 and set out for England in November 1588.
Captured by the priest-hunter Topcliffe late in 1590, he was tortured until he was reduced to a skeleton, but he would not betray other Catholics. He was put to death in Fleet Street, London, on 2 July 1591, simply for being a priest, saying that he would glory only in the Cross of Christ.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A young English priest who endured torture rather than betray his fellow Catholics.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
Connected on this site
- Montford Scott Blessed“At London in England, Blesseds George Beesley and Montford Scott, priests and martyrs, who, condemned to death for their priesthood under Queen Elizabeth I, reached the palm of martyrdom after cruel tortures.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Ven. George Beesley
- Wikidata Q4242111 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — George Beesley (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.