George Haydock
English priest
Who they were
George Haydock, youngest son of a Lancashire family, studied at Douai and Rome and was ordained in 1581. Arrested in London soon after landing, he spent over a year in the Tower in strict confinement, sick with fever; he scratched the pope's name and arms on his cell walls, so great was his love of the papacy.
Pressed at his examination, he declared the queen a heretic. Condemned with other priests, he was the first of them to die, at Tyburn on 12 February 1584.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A frail young priest whose love of the Church carried him through prison to death.
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
- James Fenn Saint“James Fenn was a priest who was put to death at Tyburn on 12 February 1584, under Elizabeth I, together with George Haydock, Thomas Hemerford, John Nutter and John Munden.” — this site's research
- Edward Thwing Blessed“He was beatified on 22 November 1987 by John Paul II, among George Haydock and eighty-four companions, martyrs of England, Wales and Scotland.” — this site's research
- Henry Webley Blessed“He was beatified on 22 November 1987 by John Paul II, among George Haydock and eighty-four companions, martyrs of England, Wales and Scotland.” — this site's research
- John Munden Blessed“The Roman Martyrology for 12 February places him at London with Thomas Hemmerford, James Fenn, John Nutter and George Haydock, priests condemned to death for keeping their fidelity to the Church of Rome after Elizabeth I claimed the primacy in spiritual matters, and disembowelled while still alive at Tyburn.” — this site's research
- John Nutter Blessed“In London in England, the Blessed martyrs Thomas Hemerford, James Fenn, John Nutter, John Munden and George Haydock, priests, who, because Queen Elizabeth I had claimed for herself supremacy in spiritual matters, were condemned to death for having kept faith with the Church of Rome and at Tyburn were disembowelled…” — this site's research
- John Woodcock Blessed“He was beatified on 22 November 1987 by John Paul II, among George Haydock and eighty-four companions, martyrs of England, Wales and Scotland.” — this site's research
- Thomas Hemmerford Blessed“The Roman Martyrology for 12 February places him at London with James Fenn, John Nutter, John Munden and George Haydock, priests condemned to death for keeping their fidelity to the Church of Rome after Elizabeth I claimed the primacy in spiritual matters, and disembowelled while still alive at Tyburn.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - George Haydock
- Wikidata Q5540342 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — George Haydock (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.