Martyrs’ Memorial – A Memorial to Three Oxford Martyrs

Martyrs’ Memorial – A Popular Meeting Point in Oxford:

Martyrs' Memorial, Oxford

Looking much like a church spire, the Martyrs’ Memorial is a stone memorial that was built to commemorate three 16th century Oxford martyrs.

The Martyrs’ Memorial was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1841 in memory of three Protestant martyrs: Thomas Cranmer – Archbishop of Canterbury, Nicholas Ridley – Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer – Bishop of Worcester, years after their deaths.

The three men were tried at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin and burnt at the stake in 1555 and 1556 under the order of the Roman Catholic Queen Mary for their belief in the Protestant faith. A cross set into the ground in the nearby Broad Street marks the spot.

The statues of the three men show Crammer facing north holding his Bible, Ridley looks towards the east and Latimer has his arms crossed and head bowed westwards.

On the base of the Martyrs’ Memorial is the following inscription:

“To the Glory of God, and in grateful commemoration of His servants, Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, Prelates of the Church of England, who near this spot yielded their bodies to be burned, bearing witness to the sacred truths which they had affirmed and maintained against the errors of the Church of Rome, and rejoicing that to them it was given not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His sake; this monument was erected by public subscription in the year of our Lord God, MDCCCXLI”.

Situated at the intersection of St Giles, Magdalen Street and Beaumont Street, Martrys’ Memorial is a well-known meeting point in Oxford.

Map of Oxford:

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