Augustine Webster was a Carthusian monk and presbyter who lived during the 15th and 16th centuries. Educated at Cambridge University, he eventually served as the prior of the house of Our Lady of Melwood in Lincolnshire. During the English Reformation, he and several other religious leaders sought to demonstrate their loyalty to the crown while maintaining their religious convictions. His refusal to accept the royal supremacy led to his arrest and eventual execution in Tyburn in 1535.
Life and death
After joining the Charterhouse of Sheen, Webster rose to the position of prior in 1531. In early 1535, he traveled to London to discuss the religious policies of Henry VIII with other leaders. Seeking to balance political loyalty with their own conscience, the monks petitioned the King's Vicar-General, but their request was rejected. Webster was subsequently imprisoned in the Tower and, following a trial regarding the Oath of Supremacy, was executed at Tyburn on 4 May 1535.
Veneration
He is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church and is counted among the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, who were canonized by Pope Paul VI. His memory is honored through various churches and an academy in North Lincolnshire that bear his name. Stained-glass windows depicting him can be found in several locations, including Cambridge and Derby.