William Pike
English Roman Catholic martyr
Feast: 22 December (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
William Pike, a Dorset joiner, was converted by the martyr Thomas Pilchard. Asked the 'bloody question', he frankly upheld the Pope's authority and was condemned.
Urged to recant to save himself and his family, he replied that it did not become a son of Mr Pilchard to do so. He was executed at Dorchester in December 1591.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A craftsman who followed the priest who converted him to martyrdom.
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
- Thomas Pilchard Blessed“He is thought to have been converted to Catholicism by Thomas Pilchard.” — Wikipedia
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - William Pike
- Wikidata Q8016900 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — William Pike (martyr) (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.