Pilgrims remember the Welsh saint falsely convicted of plotting against the Government

Welsh Catholic pilgrims paid great homage to two of their martyred saints by taking part in annual pilgrimages to their graves in Wales.

Saint David Lewis is still fondly remembered as Tad y Tlodion – Father of the Poor - and August 25 2019 marked the 340^thanniversary of his execution at Usk.

He was caught up in the false Titus Oates plot, accused of being complicit in the attempted assassination of King Charles II. He is still fondly remembered every anniversary of his death by parishioners of the church name after him in Usk, SS Francis Xavier and David Lewis. Indeed there is a website celebrating his life and death, still showing that after more than 300 years the love Welsh catholics have for him.

His words on the scaffold still ring through the centuries:

“By all that is sacred in heaven and earth; I here solemnly protest, that I am as innocent from any plot whatever against his majesty’s person or government, as the infant that left the mother’s womb but yesterday, neither did I ever hear or know any thing directly or indirectly of any such plot, till public fame had spread it over the country between Michaelmass and All-Saints Day last. This is true; as God shall judge and save my soul, neither was there any guilt of any such black crime found in me by Mr Oates, Mr Bedlow, Mr Dugdale and Mr Praunce, when by them I was strictly examined on that point, last May in Newgate, London. Nay; had I had the least knowledge or hint of such Plot, I had been as zealously nimble in the discovery of it, as any the most loyal subject his majesty hath in his three kingdoms. Wherefore; when I am dead and gone, if some malevolent gives out, I lose my life for plotting, by charity strive to disengage him of his mistake; do that right to my dead ashes.”

Father Bernard Sixtus delivered the Benediction at SS Francis Xavier and David Lewis Church, in Usk, before pilgrims walked to his place of execution and then on to the Saint’s grave at Saint Mary’s Priory Church.

David Lewis was born in Abergavenny in the year 1616. He was brought up as a Protestant but later became a Catholic. Both his parents died in 1638 and that same year, David set off for Rome.

He entered the Venerable English College on 6th November 1638 to prepare for ordination to the Sacred Priesthood. David Lewis assumed the name of Charles Baker (A common practice in those days of persecution).

He completed his studies, receiving Minor Orders in June 1641 and was ordained to the Priesthood on 20th July 1642.

The website honours him with the prayer:

Lord, we thank you for the gift of Saint David Lewis as our local Saint and Martyr. He was faithful to Christ even to the point of accepting martyrdom for His sake. Help us to do all we can to promote devotion to him. Increase our own faith, and by his prayers, grant us the courage to follow his example of love and the grace of conversion for all who seek the truth. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen

On Sunday 18th August 2019 St. Mary’s R.C. Church, Monmouth, hosted the annual pilgrimage to the grave of Saint David’s fellow martyr St. John Kemble which is at the Anglican church yard of St. Mary the Virgin in Welsh Newton, Herefordshire, once a Crusader church.

Those able to walk the five miles to the country churchyard passed through countryside well-known to Fr. Kemble 350 years ago, enjoying the fine weather to join with other pilgrims representing churches from a wide area of Wales and the Marches.

St John Kemble (1599 – 1679) was born on a farm five miles from Welsh Newton, near St. Weonards village. He was ordained in France and on return lived at nearby Pembridge Castle with his brother, ministering to Catholics in the surrounding area for the next fifty-four years. He was said to be a likeable man, well regarded by most people, Catholic or not.

In 1678 two clever scoundrels, Titus Oates and Israel Tongue, made up a story of a Catholic plot to kill King Charles II, which was quickly used as an excuse for whipping up an anti-Catholic hysteria, and a number of quick arrests and "trials", said to be the most farcical in British history. When treason could not be proved priests were sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered for the crime of being a Catholic priest.

On Thursday, 22rd August 1679 St. John Kemble was executed in Hereford.

Before leaving for his execution, John sat for a while with the under-sheriff, having a final drink and smoking a final pipe. This led to the Herefordshire expression “Kemble cup” and “Kemble pipe”, meaning one taken before a parting.

So well respected was he in the area that he was permitted to die on the gallows and avoid the agony of the drawing and quartering elements.

On the same day St. John Wall suffered the same fate 27 miles away in Worcester.

St. David Lewis was hanged, drawn and quartered in Usk on 27th August as had been St. John Lloyd and St. Philip Evans in Cardiff on 22nd July 1679.

Archbishop of Cardiff George Stack reflected on the martyrs SS John Kemble and David Lewis:

“Forty eight years ago today I had the privilege of being present in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, when Pope Paul VI canonised the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. It was an amazing experience, made even more special in the fact that the choir of Westminster Cathedral was allowed to sing the Mass rather than the Sistine choir. Little did I know that thirty years later I would be responsible for that choir as Administrator of Westminster Cathedral. Neither did I know that forty eight years later I would be privileged to preach in Aberystywth at the re-dedication of the church in honour of the Welsh martyrs.”