Nicholas Postgate was born in 1598 at Egton, near Whitby. He was born at a time when Catholics were persecuted, and fined for not attending protestant church services; his mother, who was widowed young, was fined a number of times. Priests travelled around the country in disguise, if caught by the authorities they were hanged, drawn and quartered. The influence of these missionary priests must have led Nicholas to be inspired to be a priest. He trained to be a priest at Douai in France (a forerunner of Ushaw College, Durham), it was illegal to train priests in England.

After ordination he worked as a priest, administering the Sacraments in secret in Tadcaster, Holderness, Everingham. The last twenty years of his life were spent living in Ugthorpe. He lived in poverty, serving the Catholics of the whole of the North Yorkshire moors from Cleveland to Whitby and Pickering. In 1678 he was caught doing a Baptism, was arrested and sent to trial. At the age of 83 Nicholas Postgate was martyred on 7th August 1679 at the Knavesmire in York.

Since his death local Catholic families have honoured him; in 1987 pope John Paul II declared him (along with 84 other martyrs) blessed.

May Blessed Nicholas Postgate pray for us all and help all the priests and people of the diocese to live out the Faith fully without fear or compromise.

(partly taken from the diocese of Middlesbrough Calendar of Saints)

God our Father
In Blessed Nicholas Postgate you gave to your Church an example of faith
And a willingness to live in poverty and humility for the glory of your name.
Grant that like him we may grow daily in union with Christ in the Mass,
And ponder on the mysteries of our salvation in the rosary.
We make this prayer through the same Christ our Lord, Amen.