About St John Kemble
There were many examples of personal heroism during the extreme civil and political turbulence of the 16th and 17th centuries and we have adopted the name of one person, John Kemble, who became much regarded for his work in Herefordshire and the Welsh Borders during this period.
Born in 1599 at St Weonards, Herefordshire, John Kemble followed his brother into the priesthood and at the age of 20 left England to study at Douai Monastery in France. He then returned to Pembridge Castle (between Monmouth and Hereford) where some of his relations were living and he became based there as an itinerant priest. During the civil war the wider Kemble family threw themselves into the struggle and garrisoned Pembridge Castle for King Charles II.
In around 1678, a person named Titus Oates was exciting public passion by proclaiming a fictitious plot to murder the King and install his Catholic brother, James, in his place. In 1679 John Kemble along with others were charged with treason for their alleged involvement in the 'Popish Plot'.
Despite popular sympathy for the innocent man (now 80 years old) whose blameless life and kindly disposition had endeared him to many, he was sent to the gallows. Shortly before his execution at Widemarsh Common, Hereford, he addressed a large crowd and forgave all those who had been instrumental in or desirous of his death. After hanging he was taken down and decapitated, and then buried at Welsh Newton. To this day, a pilgrimage to his grave at the Parish Churchyard is made each year on the Sunday nearest to 22 August, the day on which he died.
John Kemble was canonised in 1970. His sainthood would surely be demeaned if it were thought to commemorate bigotry and intolerance. Rather, his innocent life as a servant of God and his forgiving spirit when faced with a wholly undeserved death may perhaps illuminate the higher virtues for others to aspire to. St. John Kemble spent his life quietly caring for others; we hope he doesn't mind us having adopted him as patron of our organisation.
The story written here has been based on the writings of various authors.
The picture is taken from a painting of St. John Kemble that was commissioned by his family some time after his death. The portrait was painted from a pen-and-ink sketch that had been drawn by the governor of Hereford gaol shortly before his execution.