Edmund Sykes was an English Roman Catholic priest who lived during the late 16th century. After studying and being ordained at the English College in Reims, he returned to England to participate in the English Mission. While working in Yorkshire, he was betrayed by an apostate during a period of illness and subsequently imprisoned. Following a brief period of exile in Rome, he returned to England, where he was eventually captured again and sentenced to death for his priesthood.
Life and death
After his ordination in 1581, Sykes traveled through Yorkshire as a pilgrim. Following a period of imprisonment and exile in Rome, he returned to the English mission to atone for a previous lapse. He was eventually betrayed by his own brother while staying in Wath. He was held at York Castle and condemned as a traitor, facing execution at York Tyburn on 23 March 1587.
Veneration
He is recognized as a blessed martyr within the Catholic Church. His beatification took place in 1987. In recognition of his service and sacrifice, a parish in Leeds is named in his honor.