St Ambrose Barlow

Edward Barlow – he took the name Ambrose on becoming a Benedictine monk – was born in Manchester in 1585. Wishing to study for the Roman Catholic priesthood, but unable to do so in this country because of religious persecution, he went first to seminary at Douay in France and then the English College at Valladolid in Spain where he was ordained priest, before returning to England in 1615 to minister to those who still kept the faith in the area between Manchester and Liverpool.

Noted for his saintliness and humility, Ambrose carried out his duties on foot, his two main Mass Centres being Wardley Hall, the present home of the Bishop of Salford, and Morleys Hall in the parish of Leigh. While he was recovering from a severe illness, he celebrated Holy Mass on Easter Sunday, 1641, in Morleys Hall for about 200 of the faithful, when a local clergyman “an ardent protestant”, some say the Vicar of Eccles, while others say the Vicar of Leigh, heard of Ambrose’s presence and led a mob of 400 people to apprehend the “Popish Priest”. Ambrose was warned of their approach but refused to abandon his people. He was arrested and taken to Lancaster Castle escorted by a posse of 60 men. After four months in Lancaster Gaol he was brought to trial on Tuesday, 7th September 1641. He was accused of being a Catholic priest “and at no time denied the charge”. After two days he was found guilty and condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. The following day – 10th September – the sentence was carried out; he was placed on a hurdle and drawn to the place of execution carrying a small wooden cross, which he had made while languishing in prison.

After Ambrose had been martyred, his head was severed from his body, and sent to Manchester on the orders of the magistrate, to be displayed as a warning to others who still would not conform to the new protestant heresy. However, a relation of Ambrose, Francis Downes, “a staunch Catholic”, rescued the skull, by night, and guarded it in a secret place in Wardley Hall, where it now rests next to the main staircase.