William Way, also known by the aliases May or Flower, was an English Catholic priest who was martyred in 1588. Born in the Diocese of Exeter, he traveled to France to complete his religious studies because Catholic seminaries had been closed in England following the Protestant Reformation. After being ordained a priest in Laon, he returned to his home country, where he was eventually arrested and charged for his priesthood. He was executed at Kingston upon Thames during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Life and death
After receiving his tonsure in Reims, Way was ordained as a priest in 1586. Following his return to England in late 1586, he was imprisoned by the summer of 1587. During his trial, he refused to recognize the authority of the secular judge or the Queen as the head of the church. This refusal led to his condemnation for treason, resulting in his execution by being hung, drawn, and quartered.
Veneration
The Catholic Church recognizes Way as a martyr. He is currently honored as a venerable within the church tradition. His feast day is observed on September 23, which marks the date of his death in Kingston upon Thames.