Saint John Wall

John Wall, (aliases John Marsh, Francis Johnson or Dormore or Webb, religious name "Joachim of St. Ann") (1620 – 22 August 1679) was an English Franciscan friar, who is honoured as a martyr by the Catholic Church. Wall served on the English mission in Worcestershire for twenty-two years before being arrested and executed at the time of Titus Oates's alleged plot. He was born in Preston, Lancashire, the son of wealthy and staunch Lancashire Catholics. His brother William, also a priest, became a Benedictine monk. William was later arrested, and condemned for being a priest, but was reprieved and survived. John Wall was sent when very young to be educated at the English College, Douai. As the English government had spies and informers on the continent, Wall used the name "John Marsh". He entered the English College, Rome, on 5 November 1641 and was ordained a Catholic priest on 3 December 1645. He was sent on the English Mission on 12 May 1648 under the aliases of Francis Johnson, and Dormore. For several years he said Mass for recusant households. He returned to Douai and on 1 January 1651, he joined the Order of Friars Minor at St. Bonaventure's Friary, taking the name Friar Joachim of St. Ann. He was soon named Master of novices, serving in that office until 1656, when he returned to England, under the name Francis Webb and settled in Worcestershire. There he became a Governor (Six Master) of the Royal Grammar School Worcester. After 22 years of ministry to the Catholics of the area, he was apprehended in December 1678, at Rushock Court near Bromsgrove, where the sheriff's man had come to seek a debtor. He was tendered the Oath of Supremacy and was committed to Worcester Gaol for refusing it. His trial was on 25 April 1679. A man whose vices he had reproved bore testimony to his priesthood, and he received a sentence.