George Napier was born in 1550 to a Catholic family living in Holywell Manor, Oxford.  George was admitted to Corpus Christi College as a student but expelled in 1568 for his Catholic faith and practice. He was in prison in 1588, but was released on taking the Oath of Supremacy.

He went to Douai College in 1594 and two years later, aged 46, he was ordained priest. He remained on the European mainland for some years, including a time teaching at Douai College.

Following the accession of James I, a time when greater tolerance was being extended to the Catholic community, George Napier returned to England in 1603, and for the next 7 years ministered in Oxford and thereabouts.

In July 1610 he was arrested and confined to prison for some time. He was tried and sentenced to death. His family strove to have him reprieved, but their attempts failed when Fr Napier gave absolution and reconciled a fellow-prisoner to the Church, and refused to take the Jacobean Oath of Allegiance.

He was hanged, drawn and quartered on November 9th 1610. His head was displayed on the then incomplete Tom Tower the bell tower being built over Tom Gate, the entrance on St Aldate to Christ Church College, Oxford. Other of his body parts were removed to the Knights Templar chapel at Sandford (which long ago fell into disrepair and have since been repurposed into farm buildings and more recently a hotel.)

The Memorial of Blessed George Napier is kept on November 8th.

Father,
you gave Blessed George Napier
the courage to lay down his life for your Church.
May he continue to help us with his prayers
that we may be always true to our Christian calling.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

A remarkable number of saints and blesseds have association with the city of Oxford. They include St Frideswide, patron of the City, St Edmund of Abingdon; Blessed George Nichols and companions; Saint John Henry Newman, Blessed Dominic Barberi, Blessed Agnellus of Pisa; and St Edmund Campion. There are many others too who suffered because of their faith, even to the point of being martyred. A day can be well spent visiting places of Catholic interest and significance in the city.

Illustration of George Napier in 'Memoirs of Missionary Priests' by Bishop Challoner (Jack, 1878).