John Sugar

John Sugar (Suker) (born at Wombourn, Staffordshire, 1558; executed at Warwick, 16 July1604) was an English Roman Catholic priest. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1987.

Life

He matriculated at the University of Oxford from St. Mary Hall, 30 October, 1584, and is described as the son of a priest ("clerici filius"). He left without taking a degree, it is said because he disliked the Oath of Supremacy; but it appears that he acted as a Protestant minister at Cannock, Staffordshire, for some time.

He was ordained priest from the English College, Douai (1601), and sent on the mission the same year. He was arrested 8 July, 1603, at Rowington, Warwickshire, with Robert Grissold, a native of Rowington (in the service of Mr. Sheldon of Broadway, Worcestershire), who was in attendance on him. After a year's imprisonment at Warwick they were condemned there 14 July, Sugar for being a priest, and Grissold for assisting him. Sugar was cut down before he was fully dead. Grissold was offered his life if he would promise to conform to the Church of England.

References

*Richard Challoner, "Missionary Priests", II, nos. 135, 136;
*Foster, "Alumni Oxonienses" (Oxford, 1892);
*Knox, "Douay Diaries" (London, 1878), 17, 32;
*Pollen, "Acts of the English Martyrs" (London, 1891), 321.