John Huddleston

John Huddleston (15 April 1608 – buried 13 September 1698) was an English priest and monk of the Catholic Order of St Benedict. He helped Charles II during his escape. Later, Huddleston was chaplain to Queen Catherine and present when Charles converted to Catholicism on his deathbed.

Early life and education John Huddleston was born at Farington Hall, Lancashire, the second son of Joseph Huddleston from Hutton John, near Penrith in Cumberland. His uncle, Richard Huddleston, was a Benedictine priest. John was educated at the school at nearby Great Blencow until he was fifteen. When he was twenty he was sent to St Omer College, and on 17 October 1632, entered the English College, Rome. On 22 March 1637, Huddleston was ordained priest in St John Lateran, and left Rome for England on 28 March 1639.

Chaplain to Thomas Whitgrave

In 1651 he was staying at Moseley Old Hall, Staffordshire, as chaplain to Thomas Whitgrave's family, prominent local Catholics. After the defeat at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651, Charles II, made King of Scotland following his father's execution, was conducted by Colonel Gifford to White Ladies Priory on Gifford's Boscobel estate. At White Ladies, the young King was sheltered by the five Penderell brothers who lived there. John Penderell happened to meet Father Huddleston, who suggested that the young King should go to Moseley Old Hall on the night of 7 September. Huddleston cleaned and bandaged the King's sore feet. To guard against surprise Huddleston was constantly in attendance on the future King of England; his three pupils were stationed as sentinels at upper windows and Thomas Whitgrave patrolled the garden. Huddleston then heard the King's confession, reconciled him to the Church and absolved him, afterwards administering Extreme Unction and the Viaticum. On the accession of James II, Huddleston continued to stay with the Queen Catherine at Somerset House.

Illness and death Shortly before his death aged 90 his mind failed and he was placed in the charge of a trustee. He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary le Strand.

Legacy Several portraits of Huddleston exist: Jacob Huysmans' done in 1685 is at Hutton John; another is at Sawston Hall, Cambridgeshire.

His Roman Missal (1623) was bought at auction by the National Trust in 2023 and is on display at Moseley Old Hall.