Saints

Bishop and Martyr. Born around 130 AD, Irenaeus of Lyons was bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, (now Lyons) in France. His writings were formative in the early development of Christian theology. He was a disciple of Polycarp of Smyrna, who himself was a disciple of the Apostle John the Theologian. Irenaeus is thought to have been a Greek from Smyrna in Asia Minor, now Izmir, Turkey. He was brought up ... Read More

Priest and martyr. John Southworth was born in 1592 in Lancashire. He went overseas to study and was ordained in Douai in 1618. St John returned to England in 1627 and was soon arrested. He spent three years in prison - the first of several imprisonments. Most of his priestly work was carried out in Westminster. He was much loved for his ministry to the sick and dying, especially during the pl... Read More

St Peter was in many ways the most impetuous of the apostles. A fisherman in Galilee when he met Jesus for the first time, he was told he would become a fisherman of men. His name originally was Simon. Jesus changed it to Kephas, an Aramaic word meaning rock. When Jesus asked who the disciples thought who he was Peter said immediately: "You are the Christ. The Son of the Living God." Jesus repli... Read More