This week sees the celebrations to commemorate the feast day on June 22 of St Alban, Britain’s first Christian Martyr. It is also the feast day of St John Fisher, after which one of our Primary schools is named. Most St Albans citizens know about St Alban, perhaps fewer about St John Fisher. He was an English Catholic priest, appointed Bishop of Rochester by Henry Vll and an academic who became Chancellor of Cambridge University and tutored the young Prince Henry (later Henry Vlll). He refused to take the oath of succession acknowledging the issue of Henry Vlll and his second wife Anne Boleyn, while his first wife Catherine still lived. The appointment of John Fisher as Cardinal resulted in the retaliation of Henry Vlll and John Fisher’s imprisonment in the Tower of London. Only public outcry made King Henry Vlll commute the original sentence (to be hung drawn and quartered) and John Fisher was beheaded on the feast day of St Alban 22 June 1535.

Recently there were huge demonstrations in Hong Kong against the bill allowing extradition from Hong Kong to China, likely to target political and religious opponents of the Chinese state. Many including a sociology professor, a law professor and a Baptist minister have been convicted for organising the pro-democracy ‘Occupy’ protests.

The right to vote, freedoms of peaceful protest, and of worship, have been hard won here, but need international support for those not so fortunate.

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here