'Brave' Jesuit Martyr is honoured in South Wales

A Jesuit martyr has been honoured in South Wales, over 300 years after his arrest and execution.  David Lewis was detained on 17 November 1678 while making his way to Llantarnam Abbey near Cwmbran to say Mass.  He was hanged, drawn and quartered the following year on the charge of high treason.

David Lewis was the last Catholic martyr of mainland Britain and was among the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales canonised in 1970.  Last Saturday, on the anniversary of his arrest, a plaque was erected at the Old Post Office, which used to be the blacksmith.  It was from here that he set out on that fateful day, heading for Llantarnam Abbey, which at the time was in private ownership.

Sister Celsus from Llantarnam Abbey has researched his history and says that despite the threat of a death sentence, the Jesuit priest travelled around South Wales for 30 years saying mass for those who wanted it.

'Every Sunday morning he would come here,' she told BBC News. 'It was totally forbidden by the Crown but he would go all over Monmouthshire saying Mass whenever he could because people still wanted it.  He was a very brave man.'

On 27 August 1679, David Lewis was executed at Usk, after being condemned as a Roman Catholic priest who persisted in celebrating Mass.

Read more on the BBC News web site.


 BBC News