A Commemorative Walk from Newcastle to Gateshead in honour of Blessed John Ingram takes place each year on the Sunday nearest the 26th of July
This year we fall in time and the walk will take place on Sunday 26th July – led by Deacon Shaun McGee.
Walkers should meet at St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Gallowgate at 2:30pm for a service at 2:45pm.
The walk starts after the service and goes via the Swing Bridge ending with a service followed by light refreshments at St Edmund’s Anglican Chapel on Gateshead High Street.
The walk is arranged by members of the St Vincent de Paul Society who revived the devotion which the late Father Joseph Scarr established in the 1920’s and which had fallen into abeyance.
The St Vincent de Paul Society extends grateful thanks to the Anglican Community in St Andrew’s, Newcastle and St Edmund’s, Gateshead for their active cooperation and the use of both churches each year.
More about John Ingram
John Ingram was born at Stoke Edith, Herefordshire. Whilst a student at Oxford he was reconciled or converted to Catholicism and soon after left England to study for the Priesthood under Cardinal William Allen.
Following his Ordination in Rome, he spent some time in Europe before leaving for the English Mission, bad weather forced his ship off course and he was eventually put ashore near Dunbar. It was in this Border region that he ministered.
Following an outcry in Scotland against Catholics he was forced to flee across the border into England. He rested for some 5 hours at Wark, near Berwick before attempting to return to his mission. He was arrested while crossing the Tweed at Norham, near Berwick.
From Berwick he was sent to Newcastle, then to York and eventually to the Tower of London for examination by Richard Topcliffe. He suffered grievous torture while in the Tower, yet steadfastly refused to betray his friends and associates.
From London he was sent to Durham to stand trial with two other Martyrs, St John Boste and Blessed George Swallowell.
All three were convicted and condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered. St John Boste was executed that same day (July 24th) in Durham, Blessed George Swallowell in Darlington on Monday 29th July. Blessed John Ingram was executed at Gateshead on Friday 26th July. He was only 29 years of age.