St John Fisher (1469-1535)

He was born in Yorkshire and he went to Cambridge University. He became a Priest and was Chaplan to Margaret Beaufort. After that he became a Bishop. Henry VIII was married to Cathrine of Aragon but he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn. Henry asked John Fisher if his marriage to Catherine was legal. John Fisher was an honest man and he said yes. Henry was really angry because he wanted John Fisher to say no. He threw him in prison in the Tower of London. In prison he was tricked into saying that Henry VIII should not be head of the church. The King brought John Fisher to the court and he was found guilty of treason.He was to have his head chopped off on Tower Hill. Just before he was executed the Pope made John Fisher a cardinal. He thought that if he did everyone would think that John Fisher was a true Catholic because he stood up to Henry and had followed his religion closely, so they would become Catholic again.

St John Fisher was executed on 22 June 1535 and his head was stuck on a stake on London Bridge.Thomas More was executed two weeks later. They wanted to stick Thomas Moore's head on the stake so they threw John Fisher's head into the Thames. St John Fisher was made a saint in 1935 and shares his feast day (22 June) with Thomas More.

This life story of St John Fisher was sewn by the children using felt.