This week in Christian history: Oxford Movement begins, Irish Archbishop executed, Teutonic Knights battle

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, July 11, 2021

Irish Archbishop executed – July 11, 1681

Oliver Plunket (1629-1681), last name sometimes rendered Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland who was executed for being a member of the Roman Catholic Church. | Wikimedia Commons

This week marks the anniversary of when Oliver Plunket, the archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, was executed by the English after being accused of treason.

A high-ranking Catholic clergyman, Plunket was arrested by English authorities at a time of anti-Catholic persecution and was found guilty of engaging in treasonous activities.

“Plunket, surrounded by a numerous guard of military, was led to Tyburn for execution. Vast crowds assembled along the route and at Tyburn,” noted the website New Advent.

“From the scaffold he delivered a discourse worthy of an apostle and martyr. An eye-witness of the execution declared that by his discourse and by his heroism in death he gave more glory to religion than he could have won for it by many years of a fruitful apostolate.”