Patenson, William, Bl.
PATENSON, WILLIAM, BL.
Priest and martyr; b. Durham, England; d. hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn (London), Jan. 22, 1592. Following his seminary studies (1584–87) at Rheims, France, Patenson was ordained (1587) and returned to England (1589). There he ministered in the western counties until his arrest while dining in the home of Lawrence Mompesson at Clerkenwell on the Third Sunday of Advent 1591. He was condemned at the Old Bailey shortly after Christmas. During his imprisonment, Patenson reconciled several convicts imprisoned with him. He was beatified by Pius XI on Dec. 15, 1929.
Feast of the English Martyrs: May 4 (England).
See Also: england, scotland, and wales, martyrs of.
Bibliography: r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924; repr. Farnborough 1969), I, no. 94. j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891), 115–17.
[k. i. rabenstein]