Blessed John Finch
He was born at Eccleston in Lancashire. He was a married man, who, after lapsing from the faith was reconciled and became active in the apostolate. He helped missionary priests as much as he could, accompanying them and leading them from one Catholic house to another.
He also became a catechist.
It was a lapsed Catholic who betrayed him along with a priest called Ostcliffe. Many means were tried to persuade him to deny the true faith, and he was dragged through the streets, his head banging on the stones as he went.
The dungeon in to which he was put was wet, the floor was his bed. Finally he was transferred from Manchester to Lancaster to be tried at the Lenten Assizes.
When it was time to pass judgement, the jury found him guilty. He had said that the Pope was the visible head of the church on earth.
He was executed the following day, April 20 1584.
His quarters were set up on poles in the four main towns of the county.