Thomas Reynolds ( – 21 January 1642), born Thomas Green (possible alias during priestly ministry, Richard Reynolds), was an English Reformation Catholic priest and martyr.
Early life and ministry
Reynolds place of birth is not clear, possibly Warwickshire, more likely Oxfordshire. In keeping with the necessity of the times, he left England to study for the priesthood on the continent, initially going to Reims before continuing his studies from September 1590 in the English College, Valladolid as one of its first students, and finally at another newly founded Jesuit institution, the English College of St Gregory in Seville. He was ordained a priest there in 1592. He made his way to England where he ministered to the Catholic community until his arrest in 1606 in the wave of anti-Catholic measures that were taken following the Gunpowder Plot of November 1605. Whilst the duration of his early years of ministry reflected the slightly less difficult times for Catholics during that period, the Gunpowder Plot changed the atmosphere making it far more hostile. He was one of the priests who were fortunate to just be exiled from England rather than martyred in response to the Plot. He soon returned to England and once more set about ministering to Catholics in secret. This he continued for about twenty years until he was arrested in 1628.
Imprisonment
He was put on trial and condemned to death, but given a reprieve at the behest of the Queen, Henrietta Maria, originally of France, a Catholic. Though imprisoned he was kept under relatively mild conditions which included being allowed to receive visitors readily. Because of that, many Catholics visited him, not only to offer him care and support but also for his spiritual guidance and the sacraments. In 1635 he was one of a number of priests who would pay a bond and then be released from prison, which allowed him to minister to the local Catholic population in London on a regular basis. With the Crown at that time having Catholic sympathies and the rather more anti-Catholic feelings of Parliamentarians being diffused due to Parliament's long suspension, this was a period when the pressures on Catholics were eased. It was due to this that a number of priests were able to act in a similar manner to Reynolds.
Trial and execution
The financial needs of King Charles I forced him to recall Parliament in 1640. At this time Parliament was increasingly being dominated by Puritans who were hostile to Catholicism. As a result, conditions for Catholics and priests became far more difficult with priests once more being confined full time to their prisons. The trials and death sentences for priests resumed and one of the early victims of this was Reynolds. With the King having to flee London in early January 1642 following his failure to capture the leaders of the Parliamentary actions against him, the capital was left in control of the Parliamentarians. It was at this time that Alban Roe was tried and condemned to be executed by being hung, drawn and quartered together with Reynolds. Now eighty years of age, by nature a slightly timid person and being somewhat infirm, Reynolds admitted his fears of facing execution and how he would be able to manage the ordeal he was soon to undergo. He spent his final couple of days in prayer and asking for the prayers of his fellow priests imprisoned with him.