Advertiser Readers Letters: Priest to be remembered
Newark is a town that can celebrate a rich history and over the centuries many individuals are known for their association with this heritage.
One man, Oxford-educated Henry Lytherland, arrived in 1532 as Vicar of St Mary Magdalene having previously served Lincoln Cathedral as legal Advisor and treasurer. Unfortunately for him, during his six years in office, events during the Reformation proved to be a time of much turmoil.
In 1534 Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, which defined the right of Henry VIII to be supreme head on earth of the Church of England, severing ecclesiastical links with Rome, to which Henry had been ordinated as a Catholic Priest.
In 1536 The Ten Articles, were enacted in the first set of doctrinal regulations to be established under King Henry VIII. They were intended to be a compromise between the traditional Catholic doctrines and the new Protestant ideas. For example, it ignored the Catholic belief in Purgatory and the saying of Masses for the dead.
In March 1538, a letter was sent to Thomas Cromwell conveying the thoughts of a local man, Sir John Markham, who reported to the King’s chief minister of his being present at St Mary Magdalene Church on a couple of occasions during the time sermons were given by Henry Lytherland, in which the Vicar had failed to comply with the new set of religious doctrines,
Sir John reported of a ‘cankered and corrupt mind’ during two sermons on Candlemas Day and the Sunday following.
Saying he never taught or declared to the people the King’s title to be Supreme Head but faintly named him so in desiring them to pray for him. He never spoke of the usurped authority of the bishop of Rome. He bade his hearers pray for souls in Purgatory.
He condemned English books of the Scriptures and warned them to take heed of those published with the King’s privilege, for he never read them, nor ever would do, “for I myself never regarded nor set by English books.”
He said it was heresy to say that our fathers were in darkness, for they had the true light. There was never more need to pray for the King's Council than now.’
This last sentence seems to have been a veiled criticism of the head of that council, Thomas Cromwell.
Shortly after this letter was sent Henry Lytherland was arrested, taken to York where he stood trial on charges of treason and was executed.
On March 9 Henry Lytherland will be remembered in prayers during a regular Sunday 11am Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church New-ark.
Henry Lytherland, Vicar of St Mary Magdalene and the last serving Catholic Priest of the Parish Church provides an ecumenical link to a shared history. — FRANCIS TOWNDOW, Newark.
