RESTORATION OF MONARCHY

The Restoration of the Monarchy

Charles II came to the throne on May 29 1660, after the Civil War and the ending of the Commonwealth established by Oliver Cromwell. Catholics hoped that persecution would cease under the new king, but Catholic recusants continued to be fined, imprisoned and punished with death for their faith until the end of the century. The Jesuit, Blessed William Ireland from Lincolnshire was executed in 1679.

Towards the end of the century, in 1685, Charles II died and the Catholic recusants’ hopes for relief rose high. The reason was the successor to Charles was James, Charles’ brother, who was a Catholic. James II only reigned for just over three years, but it was a period of great relief for Catholics all over England. In North Lincolnshire the Jesuits were able to build a chapel in Lincoln and openly celebrate mass. This chapel was described as being “not very spacious but neatly decorated and much frequented”. A sermon was preached there every Sunday and Holyday. There was also a school attached to it which it was hoped to enlarge.

The Catholic King James II persuaded the Holy See to appoint a bishop to have jurisdiction over English Catholics. John Leyburn was consecrated bishop in 1685 and made Vicar Apostolic in England. Bishop Leyburn travelled around the country visiting the outposts of the faith and confirming Catholic candidates. He conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on over 20,000 Catholics, mostly in the north of England.

Towards the end of the 17th and 18th centuries, Catholic residences, where mass was celebrated, had increased in number in North Lincolnshire. There were residences in Worlaby, Claxby, West Rasen, Kingerby and Stainfield, on the estates of families such as the Heneages at Cadeby, Morley at Twigmore and Holme, near Bottesford. The Tyrwhitts had a residence at Stainfield, the Markhams at Claxby and Fitzwilliams at Clixby.

In July 1687 Bishop Leyburn conferred Confirmation on 74 people at the Fitzwilliam estate near Caistor. One was William Fitzwilliam, a member of the family. On his journey the bishop was in Lincoln where he confirmed 149 candidates, the record names 44 of the candidates. At Hainton the bishop confirmed 115. The list includes John Heneage and Cecily Heneage. It is estimated that many more than those confirmed in Clixby, Hainton and Lincoln received Confirmation in the North Lincolnshire area from Bishop Leyburn on this occasion.