Thomas Belson
English martyr
Who they were
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.
Tortured in Bridewell and the Tower, he was condemned for helping priests and executed at Oxford on 5 July 1589. He died after the priests, kissing their bodies and asking their prayers for the grace to imitate their courage.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A layman who died with his priests and asked their prayers.
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
- George Nichols 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
- Richard Yaxley Blessed“Richard Yaxley was a priest who was put to death at Oxford on 5 July 1589, under Elizabeth I, together with George Nichols, Thomas Belson and Humphrey Pritchard.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Thomas Belson
- Wikidata Q7787562 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Thomas Belson (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.