Christopher Holywood - Ireland Under King James I

Ireland Under King James I

On the accession of King James I, there had been a reaction in favor of Catholicism, and if this was strong even in England, it was far stronger in Ireland, leading in some cases to the Jesuit occupation of the Church of Ireland properties. Father Holywood and his fellow Jesuits had their hands full of work. Though there were only four Jesuits in Ireland when he landed, their number rapidly increased, and there were forty-two when he died, besides sixty others in training or occupied in teaching on the continent. After the imposition of the Oath of Allegiance there followed a persecution. By the enforced education of their children as Anglicans, many noble and influential families converted, and the lands of Roman Catholics were freely given to settlers from England. Holywood continued to do his work. At Kilkenny, for instance, a school which lasted until Oliver Cromwell's time was begun in 1619. Five "residences", or bases for Jesuit Fathers, were established, from where missionaries were sent out. Holywood's last report is for the year 1624. He died on 4 September 1626.