Pilgrimage in Honour of Margaret Clitherow - The Pearl of York

St Margaret Clitherow

This year's Pilgrimage for St Margaret Clitherow and the Martyrs of York is on Bank Holiday Monday.

The day begins with an assembly at the Bar Convent to venerate the Relic of St Margaret Clitherow. There will be prayers at The Bar Convent Chapel at 10.30am, then a procession with the statue of St Margaret moves off and passes Ouse Bridge, the place of her execution, and the Shambles, stopping at the house where she lived.

Margaret Middleton was born in York in 1556 into a Protestant family. At the age of 18, she converted to Catholicism after the infamous recusant, Dorothy Vavasour, was placed under house arrest in the care of her Protestant neighbour, John Clitherow - Margaret's husband. In the reign of Elizabeth I, Catholicism was made illegal. In 1584, the passing of 'An Act against Jesuits, priests and other like disobedient persons' made harbouring Catholic priests a capital offence. Margaret was imprisoned several times for her recusancy but in 1586, her home was raided and a priest's hole was found. She was put on trial but refused to plead. Attempting to force her to enter a plea, the authorities ordered her to be pressed with weights. She was executed on Lady Day, 1586, in the Toll Booth at Ouse Bridge, by being crushed to death by her own door, during the ordeal. Her death had a profound effect on York, Catholicism and women's history. She was declared a saint in October 1970 as one of the 40 English martyrs.

The Civic Party including The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Margaret Wells and the Sheriff of York Fiona Fitzpatrick, will be attending the Pilgrimage to the delight of the Convent. Mother Superior Sister Ann Stafford said: "We are honoured that the Civic Party are joining the procession in honour of Margaret Clitherow."

LINK

The Bar Convent: www.bar-convent.org.uk