Commemoration of Blessed Richard Whiting and Companions

Blessed Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, together with his faithful companions, John Thorne (Treasurer) and Roger James (Sacrist) were martyred on 15th November 1539. Their sacrifice on Glastonbury Tor stands as a powerful witness to faith and conscience in the face of injustice, and remains a pivotal moment in the history of Glastonbury and English Catholicism.

Richard Whiting was born around 1460 near Wrington, on lands belonging to Glastonbury Abbey. Raised amidst the Abbey’s rich traditions, he was educated there before further studies at Cambridge, where he earned his MA and later a doctorate in theology. After ordination at Wells, he returned to Glastonbury, serving as a monk and later as Chamberlain, overseeing the Abbey’s affairs with wisdom and devotion. In 1525, following the death of Abbot Bere, Whiting was appointed Abbot by Cardinal Wolsey, praised as “an upright and religious monk, a provident and discreet man, and a priest commendable for his life, virtues and learning.”

For nearly a decade, Abbot Whiting guided the Abbey through peaceful times, earning the respect of his community and the wider region. However, the storm of the English Reformation soon reached Glastonbury. The Act of Supremacy in 1534 forced clergy to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the Church. While Whiting and his monks initially took the oath of loyalty, the Abbey’s wealth and independence made it a target for Thomas Cromwell’s commissioners.

On 19th September 1539, royal agents arrived at Glastonbury without warning. Abbot Whiting, then nearly 80 and in poor health, was seized at his Grange at Sharpham and brought back to the Abbey. Despite a thorough search, no incriminating evidence was found. Nevertheless, he was sent to the Tower of London, while the Abbey’s treasures were confiscated for the Crown.

In a travesty of justice, Whiting was subjected to a mock trial at Wells on 14th November 1539. As a peer of the realm, he should have been tried by Parliament, but Cromwell’s will prevailed. The next day, Abbot Whiting, John Thorne, and Roger James were dragged through Glastonbury to the Tor. There, before the ruins of their beloved Abbey, they were executed with great cruelty. The Abbot’s head was displayed above the Abbey gateway, and his quarters sent to nearby towns as a warning.

Eyewitnesses recorded that the martyrs “took their death very patiently, begging forgiveness of all they might have offended.” Their steadfastness and faith have inspired generations. In 1895, Pope Leo XIII beatified Richard Whiting, John Thorne, and Roger James, recognizing them as martyrs for the faith.

Today, the Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury stands as a living memorial to their witness. Let us remember their courage and pray for the grace to remain faithful in our own time.