John Finch
English martyr (1548-1584)
Who they were
John Finch was a layman who was put to death at Lancaster on 20 April 1584, under Elizabeth I, together with the priest James Bell.
In 1913 the Catholic Encyclopedia counted him among the English martyrs whose cause had been admitted at Rome, who were then styled Venerable.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
One of the English martyrs who died for the Catholic faith under Elizabeth I.
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 Bell Blessed“John Finch was a layman who was put to death at Lancaster on 20 April 1584, under Elizabeth I, together with the priest James Bell.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - English Confessors and Martyrs (1534-1729)
- Roman Martyrology, 20 April (Italian Bishops' Conference, Santo del giorno)
- Wikidata Q1700061 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — John Finch (martyr) (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.