On the new altar dedicated in Horsham, West Sussex, are the three Elizabethan martyrs dear to the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton. St. Thomas Garnet, Jesuit, whose uncle was the famous superior of the Jesuits, Henry Garnet, went to Horsham Grammar School, the connection, growing up in that area. Can one imagine him, a new priest of only twenty-four, going from Catholic house to house, catechizing, administering the sacraments, saying Mass?
He was implicated in the Gunpowder Plot, primarily for his relationship to Henry Garnet, considered one of the plotters. More of his story may be found here. He was actually freed after some time, but returned and finally was killed at Tyburn on June 23rd, 1608, and shares a feast day with Ss. Edmund Campion, who was martyred in 1601, and Robert Southwell, martyred in 1595. May the Holy Spirit raise up such men again.
