John Sugar

John Sugar or Suker (born at Wombourn, Staffordshire, 1558; executed at Warwick, 16 July 1604) was an English Roman Catholic priest. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1987.

Life

He matriculated at the University of Oxford from St. Mary's Hall of Oriel College, 30 October 1584, and is described as the son of a priest (clerici filius). He left without taking a degree, it is said because he disliked the Oath of Supremacy; but it appears that he acted as a Protestant minister at Cannock, Staffordshire, for some time.

He was ordained a priest from the English College, Douai (1601), and sent on the mission the same year. He was arrested 8 July 1603, at Rowington, Warwickshire, with 'Robert Grissold', a native of Rowington (in the service of Mr. Sheldon of Broadway, Worcestershire), who was in attendance on him. He was not accused of any specific act of treason, but simply of acting as a priest in England, contrary to the Jesuits, etc. Act 1584, which was reinforced by a second statute of 1604. After a year's imprisonment at Warwick they were condemned there 14 July, Sugar for being a priest, and Grissold for assisting him. Sugar was cut down before he was fully dead. Grissold was offered his life if he would promise to conform to the Church of England.

Sugar endured his fearful death with exemplary courage: at one point during his ordeal he said "I shall soon be above the sun", and later "after a sharp dinner I shall have a sweet supper".

References

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Venerable John Sugar". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton. The entry cites:
  • Richard Challoner, Missionary Priests, II, nos. 135, 136;
  • Foster, Alumni Oxonienses (Oxford, 1892);
  • Knox, Douay Diaries (London, 1878), 17, 32;
  • Pollen, Acts of the English Martyrs (London, 1891), 321.