George Nichols
English Catholic martyr
Who they were
George Nichols, born at Oxford about 1550, studied at Brasenose and was an usher at St Paul's School. He went to Reims and Rome and was ordained in 1583.
He converted many, including a condemned highwayman in Oxford Castle. Arrested at the Catherine Wheel inn in Oxford with Richard Yaxley and two laymen, he was executed at Oxford on 19 October 1589.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A priest of Oxford who gave his life in his own city.
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
- Richard Yaxley Blessed“Arrested at the Catherine Wheel inn in Oxford with Richard Yaxley and two laymen, he was executed at Oxford on 19 October 1589.” — this site's research
- Thomas Belson Blessed“Thomas Belson, of Brill in Oxfordshire, studied at Reims and was arrested in 1589 at an Oxford inn with his confessor George Nichols and the priest Richard Yaxley.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - George Nichols
- Wikidata Q5542886 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — George Nichols (martyr) (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.