John Adams
English Catholic priest and martyr, born 1543
Who they were
John Adams, a former Protestant minister, was converted, went to Reims in 1579 and was ordained. From 1581 he worked hard in Winchester and Hampshire, helping many, especially the poor; a fellow priest described him as very pious and pre-eminently a hard worker.
Imprisoned in 1584 and banished in 1585, he came back, was arrested again, and was executed at Tyburn on 8 October 1586.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A convert priest who served the poor and died for the Faith.
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
- John Lowe Blessed“John Lowe was a priest who was put to death at Tyburn on 8 October 1586, under Elizabeth I, together with John Adams and Richard Dibdale.” — this site's research
- Robert Dibdale Blessed“At London in England, Blesseds John Adams, Robert Dibdale and John Lowe, priests and martyrs, who, condemned to death at Tyburn under the reign of Elizabeth I for having exercised their ministry for the Catholic people in various places, reached the heavenly kingdom amid terrible torments.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - John Adams
- Wikidata Q6218190 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — John Adams (Catholic martyr) (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.