Thomas Whittaker
English martyr
Who they were
Thomas Whitaker, son of a Burnley schoolmaster, was ordained at Valladolid in 1638 and worked in Lancashire for five years. Seized in 1643, he spent three years in Lancaster Castle, known for continual prayer and charity to his fellow prisoners.
Naturally timid and dreading his death, he nevertheless refused every offer of life for conforming, saying: 'A reprieve or even a pardon upon your conditions I utterly refuse.' He was executed at Lancaster on 7 August 1646 with Edward Bamber and John Woodcock.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A timid priest made steadfast by prayer.
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
- Edward Bamber Blessed“Naturally timid and dreading his death, he nevertheless refused every offer of life for conforming, saying: 'A reprieve or even a pardon upon your conditions I utterly refuse.' He was executed at Lancaster on 7 August 1646 with Edward Bamber and John Woodcock.” — this site's research
- John Woodcock Blessed“Naturally timid and dreading his death, he nevertheless refused every offer of life for conforming, saying: 'A reprieve or even a pardon upon your conditions I utterly refuse.' He was executed at Lancaster on 7 August 1646 with Edward Bamber and John Woodcock.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Thomas Whitaker
- Wikidata Q7795082 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Thomas Whittaker (martyr) (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.