Pike, William, Bl.

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PIKE, WILLIAM, BL.

Lay martyr; b. in Dorset; hanged, drawn, and quartered Dec. 22, 1591 at Dorchester. He lived on the Moors, near Christchurch, Hampshire, and was an Anglican. On his way home from Dorchester one day, probably in 1586, he met Bl. Thomas Pilcher who convinced him of the truth of Catholicism. Thereafter he was reconciled to the Roman Church, and it was for this that he was arrested. At his trial he was asked to apostatize in order to save his life and that of his family, but refused, saying that it did not become a son of Mr. Pilcher to do so. Feast: Feb.12. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on Nov. 22, 1987 with George Haydock and Companions.

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). j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).

[k. i. rabenstein]