Francis Blyth

Who is Francis Blyth?

Francis Blyth was a Carmelite friar whose religious name was Simon Stock of the Blessed Trinity.

Both of Blyth's parents were Protestant and he was raised in their faith. However, as a young man Blyth converted to Catholicism and quickly entered the Discalced Carmelites in Modena, Italy. Here he changed his name to Simon Stock.

He was released from his tenure at the Discalced Carmelites due to poor eyesight and was then sent to Malta to study for the priesthood. He was eventually ordained there.

Blyth returned to England in 1730, working in Wiltshire and then in London. Whilst in England he used the pseudonym Francis Courtney. During this time he also revised the Douay Bible with Bishop Challoner.

In 1740, he was appointed assistance chaplain at the Portuguese Embassy in London. In 1756 he was promoted to chaplain major at the Portuguese Embassy, a position he retained until his death on December 11, 1772. He was buried in the cemetery of St Pancras.