Edward Bamber

Edward Bamber (alias Reading) (b. c. 1600, at the Moor, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire; executed at Lancaster 7 August 1646) was an English Roman Catholic priest. He was beatified in 1987.

Life Bamber was born the son of Richard Bamber, at Carleton, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. He entered the College of St. Omer and later attended the English College of St Gregory in Seville. He was ordained in 1626 and sent to England. On landing at Dover, he knelt down to thank God. Seen doing this by the Governor of Dover Castle, he was arrested and banished.

He returned again, and was soon afterwards apprehended near Standish, Lancashire; he had probably been chaplain at Standish Hall. On his way to Lancaster Castle he was lodged at the Old-Green-Man Inn near Claughton-on-Brock, and managed to escape through a window, his keepers being drunk. He was found wandering in the fields by a Mr. Singleton of Broughton Tower and was sheltered by him. saying, "God loveth a cheerful giver."

Edward Bamber was beatified by Pope John Paul II in November 1987.

A stained glass window in the church of St.Marie's in Standish depicts Bamber being pushed off a ladder, which served as a gallows for his execution, by two soldiers.

An ode composed on his death is still extant.