John Roche
Irish Catholic martyr (died 1588)
Who they were
John Roche was a layman who was put to death at Tyburn on 30 August 1588, under Elizabeth I, together with Richard Leigh, Margaret Ward, Richard Martin and others condemned with them.
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
- Margaret Ward Saint“John Roche was a layman who was put to death at Tyburn on 30 August 1588, under Elizabeth I, together with Richard Leigh, Margaret Ward, Richard Martin and others condemned with them.” — this site's research
- Edward Shelley Blessed“In the same place there suffered martyrdom with her Blessed Richard Leigh, priest, and the laymen Edward Shelley and Richard Martin, Englishmen, John Roche, an Irishman, and Richard Lloyd, a Welshman, the first because he was a priest, the others for having given hospitality to priests.” — this site's research
- Richard Leigh Blessed“John Roche was a layman who was put to death at Tyburn on 30 August 1588, under Elizabeth I, together with Richard Leigh, Margaret Ward, Richard Martin and others condemned with them.” — this site's research
- Richard Lloyd Blessed“In the same place there suffered martyrdom with her Blessed Richard Leigh, priest, and the laymen Edward Shelley and Richard Martin, Englishmen, John Roche, an Irishman, and Richard Lloyd, a Welshman, the first because he was a priest, the others for having given hospitality to priests.” — this site's research
- Richard Martin Blessed“John Roche was a layman who was put to death at Tyburn on 30 August 1588, under Elizabeth I, together with Richard Leigh, Margaret Ward, Richard Martin and others condemned with them.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - English Confessors and Martyrs (1534-1729)
- Wikidata Q6255320 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — John Roche (martyr) (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.