"What do you believe?" one might ask. "Would you die for it?" is rarely asked. "Ah, as long as I can get on with it, all this doctrine-stuff doesn't quite matter." Au contraire for men of principle and integrity. The English Reformers answered with their lives--not just the famous names whom we know and read, but the "no names" that are buried in history. The Saunders' family has one forbear as this article plaintifully evinces. (May we never forget that the Reformation was driven by the people--as much as by the leaders.) Lest we forget.
"Burned at the stake." Leicester Mercury, January 25, 2005., 14, Newspaper Source Plus, EBSCOhost (accessed November 7, 2010).
Burned at the Stake
Speaking up for your beliefs was a dangerous thing to do in 16th-century England.
This was a time of great religious turmoil and intolerance that led to the burning in 1555 of such great names in English ecclesiastical history as Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer.
Another clergyman who was martyred for his beliefs was the Rev Lawrence Saunders who, after studying at Eton and Kings College, Cambridge, became a reader in divinity at St Mary and All Saints, Fotheringhay, in Northamptonshire.
After a period of time at Lichfield Cathedral, he became the rector of Church Langton in Leicestershire where he "held a residence, taught diligently, and kept a liberal house".
Saunders then moved to London as vicar of All Hallows, Bread Street, and later preached in Northampton, where he incurred the displeasure of Queen Mary and the Catholic authorities.
He was taken prisoner but was soon released and advised to flee the country. This he would not do and continued to preach and teach until he was imprisoned once more.
On February 4, 1555, the Bishop of London, Bishop Bonner, visited Saunders in prison "to degrade him" and the following day the Sheriff of London "delivered him to certain of the Queen's Guards who were appointed to carry him to the city of Coventry, there to be burnt."
When they arrived at Coventry, a poor shoemaker who used to serve him with shoes, came to him and said: "Oh my good master, God strengthen and comfort you". "Good shoemaker", Mr Saunders replied, "I desire thee to pray for me for I am the most unfit man for this high office that ever was appointed to it, but my gracious God and dear Father is able to make me strong enough." The next day he was led to the place of execution, refusing to recant with the words "The blessed Gospel of Christ is what I hold; that do I believe, that I have taught and will never revoke!"
He was burnt at the stake.
On February 5 this year, it will be the 450th anniversary of the martyrdom of Lawrence Saunders, and Mr Francis Lawrence Saunders Luckock has arranged a commemorative day and a Lawrence Saunders pilgrimage which will visit many of the sites connected with the martyr.
Mr Luckock is looking for "members of the Saunders family who believe they may be descendants of Lawrence Saunders" to get in touch with him on 0115 939 0103.
They are invited to join him for the Coventry Commemoration Day on February 5, which includes the Coventry Martyrs Memorial wreath laying Cathedral service and lecture by Dr Alec Ryrie, and some or all of the three-day Lawrence Saunders Pilgrimage scheduled for 4, 6 and 8 February. This will include visits to Eton College, Cambridge, Fotheringhay, Lichfield Cathedral, Church Langton, York Minster, the site of All Hallows, Bread Street, London, and Southwark Cathedral.
"Burned at the stake." Leicester Mercury, January 25, 2005., 14, Newspaper Source Plus, EBSCOhost (accessed November 7, 2010).
Burned at the Stake
Speaking up for your beliefs was a dangerous thing to do in 16th-century England.
This was a time of great religious turmoil and intolerance that led to the burning in 1555 of such great names in English ecclesiastical history as Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer.
Another clergyman who was martyred for his beliefs was the Rev Lawrence Saunders who, after studying at Eton and Kings College, Cambridge, became a reader in divinity at St Mary and All Saints, Fotheringhay, in Northamptonshire.
After a period of time at Lichfield Cathedral, he became the rector of Church Langton in Leicestershire where he "held a residence, taught diligently, and kept a liberal house".
Saunders then moved to London as vicar of All Hallows, Bread Street, and later preached in Northampton, where he incurred the displeasure of Queen Mary and the Catholic authorities.
He was taken prisoner but was soon released and advised to flee the country. This he would not do and continued to preach and teach until he was imprisoned once more.
On February 4, 1555, the Bishop of London, Bishop Bonner, visited Saunders in prison "to degrade him" and the following day the Sheriff of London "delivered him to certain of the Queen's Guards who were appointed to carry him to the city of Coventry, there to be burnt."
When they arrived at Coventry, a poor shoemaker who used to serve him with shoes, came to him and said: "Oh my good master, God strengthen and comfort you". "Good shoemaker", Mr Saunders replied, "I desire thee to pray for me for I am the most unfit man for this high office that ever was appointed to it, but my gracious God and dear Father is able to make me strong enough." The next day he was led to the place of execution, refusing to recant with the words "The blessed Gospel of Christ is what I hold; that do I believe, that I have taught and will never revoke!"
He was burnt at the stake.
On February 5 this year, it will be the 450th anniversary of the martyrdom of Lawrence Saunders, and Mr Francis Lawrence Saunders Luckock has arranged a commemorative day and a Lawrence Saunders pilgrimage which will visit many of the sites connected with the martyr.
Mr Luckock is looking for "members of the Saunders family who believe they may be descendants of Lawrence Saunders" to get in touch with him on 0115 939 0103.
They are invited to join him for the Coventry Commemoration Day on February 5, which includes the Coventry Martyrs Memorial wreath laying Cathedral service and lecture by Dr Alec Ryrie, and some or all of the three-day Lawrence Saunders Pilgrimage scheduled for 4, 6 and 8 February. This will include visits to Eton College, Cambridge, Fotheringhay, Lichfield Cathedral, Church Langton, York Minster, the site of All Hallows, Bread Street, London, and Southwark Cathedral.
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