John Wall was born in Lancashire in 1620 to a Catholic family that had moved there to avoid persecution in Norfolk. In 1633 he went to study in Douai and in 1642 to the English College in Rome. He was ordained there in 1645. In 1648 he joined the English mission but at the end of 1650 he returned to Douai to join the Franciscans. In 1650 together with another Franciscan, Leo Randolph, he returned to England and a travelling or ‘riding’ mission in Warwickshire and Staffordshire.

In December 1678  Wall was arrested at Rushock Court, two miles south of Harvington Hall. His arrest took place in the wake of the ‘Oates Plot’. When he refused to take the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance. Wall was committed to Worcester Castle on suspicion of being a priest. At his trial in April evidence was given proving he was a priest. However the judge wished to show mercy, declaring ‘I do not intend you shall die, at least not for the present, until I know the King’s further pleasure.’

He was transferred to London for questioning but in the absence of any political involvement he was told that if he conformed he would be spared. He replied that ‘I would not buy my life at so dear at so dear a rate as to wrong my conscience.’

He was returned to Worcester and kept in prison until August when he was told his judges were satisfied he was innocent of any political plot but that unless he conformed he would be executed for his priesthood.

He was hanged, drawn and quartered outside Worcester on 22nd August. The presumed place of martyrdom is marked by a memorial on Red Hill, Worcester.

St John Wall's memorial is kept on the 23rd August.

All-powerful God,
you gave to Saint John Wall
the joy of serving your people,
and the privilege of witnessing to your name
even to the point of shedding his blood.
May his prayers always give us your protection.
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 memorial to St John Wall and other martyrs is erected at the presumed site of their execution. It is not signposted, but the instructions below will make it easy to find, and it is well worth a visit. Red Hill is to the south east of the city, on the London Road, (A44). Park in the Waitrose carpark (WR5 2JG); walk back to the road and cross over, walking east toward a large traffic island. The memorial is erected on a green adjacent to Whittington Gate, a cul de sac and private drive. 

Photographs (c) 2026, Allen Morris.

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Window from Harvington Hall

Detail depicting the martyrdon of St John Wall from the Millennium Window (by Mark Cazalet) in the Cloister of Worcester Cathedral.