CatholicSaints.Info

Memorial

• 20 April
• 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University

Profile

Educated at Oxford University. Priest. Though he resisted the Reformation changes at first, he eventually conformed to the rules of the state church under Queen Elizabeth, and served as a minister in the Church of England for 20 years. Taken to task by a Catholic woman for abandoning his vows, he returned to his Catholic faith and spent two years ministering to impoverished, covert Catholics. Martyred with Blessed John Finch.

Born

• c.1520 at Warrington, Lancashire, England

Died

• hanged in 20 April 1584 at Lancaster, England

Venerated

• 8 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI (decree of martyrdom)

Beatified

• 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI

MLA Citation

• “Blessed James Bell“. CatholicSaints.Info. 20 April 2024. Web. 3 May 2024. <>