Why We Need the Martyrs of Eyam
Recently, I was researching for another post I was working on, and I came across a story that I had heard in college, but forgotten. The story is of the village of Eyam in Derbyshire, England. In 1665, the last major outbreak of the Black Plague occurred in England. This small village, by the guidance of their new parish priest William Mompesson, decided to quarantine to keep the plague from spreading to their neighbors. The outbreak lasted fourteen months, and by November of 1666, when the outbreak subsided somewhere between half to two-thirds of the villagers had died. At the time of the plague, most nobles, including King Charles II, fled populated areas to avoid illness. This movement, of course, at times ended up spreading the disease. The consensus of the entire village to stay in place, sacrificing their lives was inspired by their religious devotion and care for others. The story is an example of Christian witness in times of terror. However, to my surprise, these ma