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Religious Persecution

Last updated: 11 July 2010

A unique service at Westminster Cathedral next Saturday will honour a Welsh farmer's son who was martyred for his faith in London four centuries ago.

John Roberts, a priest from Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, was hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn in December 1610 because he insisted on saying the Catholic mass. He was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970, but for many in Wales he's remained unknown. Saturday's service is part of an attempt to change this, and it will include representatives of various Christian denominations, and a bilingual address from the Archbishop of Canterbury. Keith O'Brien, one of the event organisers, talks to Roy Jenkins about the life and times of St. John Roberts.

The persecution and martyrdom of John Roberts belongs to a very different period of British history. But what happened here 400 years ago is still confronting religious believers in many countries today. To get some insight into the scale of the problem Roy Jenkins is joined by the Rev. Chris Gillham, who chairs the International Forum of Cytun, Churches Together in Wales; John Kinahan, from Forum 18, a Norwegian-based organisation which works for freedom of thought, conscience and religious belief; and by Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

This edition of All Things Considered will be broadcast on Sunday 11 July at 8.30 am and repeated on Thursday, 15 July at 5.30 am.

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For information on the commemorations for St. John Roberts please ring: 01758-614977


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