St Joan Of Arc Catholic Church | Catholic Church Farnham | Catholic Church Farnham Surrey | Mass times at St Joan of Arc Farnham

The Solemnity of St Philip Howard, Martyr Co-principal patron of the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton

St Philip Howard was born in 1557 as the crown transitioned to Elizabeth I, following Queen Mary’s death in 1558. He became Earl of Arundel in 1580, the premier earldom of England, taking his place in the House of Lords. Like many in England, he and his wife Anne were baptised Catholic, but during their upbringing had conformed to the ‘Elizabethan Church’. Anne was increasingly drawn to the faith of her baptism and was aware of the risk it posed her and her husband. Nevertheless, a priest was smuggled into Arundel Castle and Philip offered no objection to her reconciliation with Rome because he too had become convinced of the truth of the Catholic faith after hearing Edmund Campion debate with some protestant divines at the Tower of London – very much convinced by Campion’s personal holiness.

By refusing to attend the ‘Elizabethan’ services, Anne was placed under house arrest. At this time, she was pregnant and so Philip, to protect the child and admittedly himself, had the child baptized in the ‘Elizabethan Church’. Inevitably, Philip wrestling with his conscience, knew he must return to the true faith and began writing to Cardinal Allen at Douai and his reconciliation with Rome soon became public knowledge. A letter to Cardinal Allen was intercepted by Sir Francis Walsingham who sent a fake reply encouraging Philip to flee to France. Philip was intercepted and arrested; he would spend the next 11 years in the Tower.

He was charged with leaving the realm without the Queen’s permission, for becoming Catholic and for plotting with foreign powers. Later, he was tried for praying for the safety of the Catholics in the Spanish Armada, condemned as a traitor for prayer! Many people were unhappy with this, and Elizabeth told Philip that if he went to just one Protestant service she would retore his titles and honours, but he refused. He died in the tower on 19th October 1595. His famous inscription on the wall of his cell still visible today: ‘the more suffering for Christ in this world, the more glory with Christ in the world to come’.

With my prayers and best wishes, Fr. Simon.