Oxford Martyrs Memorial

This elegant stone monument, which could easily be part of a religious building, commemorates the 3 Oxford martyrs: the bishops of London and Worcester, and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The monument was built 300 years after the events of the English Reformation. The story takes place in the 16th century, while the Church of England was breaking away from the authority of the Pope and the Catholic Church. It was King Henry VIII who initiated the movement. Initially, he did it more out of political necessity than religious conviction. His problem was that he needed a divorce, and the Pope refused to annul his marriage. So, faced with Clement VII’s categorical refusal to make arrangements, King Henry VIII declared himself “Supreme Head of the Church of England,” and that was it! Thus, the Church of England was born. But the problem that Henry VIII hadn’t foreseen was that his daughter would be the future Queen Mary, also known as Bloody Mary for her sordid attempts to overthrow the English Reformation. Mary burned over 280 religious dissidents at stake during what is known as the Marian persecutions. And it was under these conditions that the 3 bishops commemorated here were burned. Take a look at the ground a little further down Broad Street because you’ll see a metallic cross in the pavement. It represents the exact spot of the stake. Doesn’t it sends shivers down your spine ? And for a little anecdote, it is said that in the past, students would trick tourists into believing that the monument was actually the spire of an underground church and that it could be visited for a small fee. The students would then send the tourists through an underground passage that led simply to the public toilets!! So, don’t be fooled!