TOMORROW marks 460 years since Bolton's first and only martyr was burned at the stake. Vickie Scullard speaks to two brothers who have discovered they distant relatives of the devout protestant.

MARTYR George Marsh was sentenced to a "long and painful" death on April 24, 1555 for refusing to denounce his faith and become a Catholic — after Queen Mary declared that people who did not follow her religious beliefs would be burned at the stake.

As the anniversary of his execution looms, Gordon Hurst and his brother Keith, from Egerton, have discovered that they are related to the preacher by marriage.

George Marsh, who lived in Deane, was the brother-in-law of Geoffrey Hurst — the brothers' distant grandfather — and was executed in Broughton, Cheshire after being arrested and tried for heresy at Smithills Hall.

The Hurst brothers made their discovery when their niece Joanne Kent, who lives in New Zealand, started researching into the family's past before verifying her findings in October last year.

Gordon said: "I was absolutely amazed when I first heard that he was related to us. It's like a story from a TV show — although sadly being killed because of religion still goes on today of course.

"I hadn't heard of George at first. My niece just emailed to say that we have a martyr in the family. He isn't just the only martyr in Bolton — he is the only martyr in the north of England.

"I am a religious person so I have my own beliefs, but am left in awe that someone has the strength and courage to justify his convictions like George did. He stuck to his guns and gave himself up before enduring such a long and painful death."

George Marsh was born in 1515 and worked as a farmer in Deane. After his wife's death he went to study theology at Cambridge University, leaving his children in the care of his parents before becoming a preacher.

He continued to preach in England despite the threat of death, and was arrested when he gave himself up at his mother's home. He was then questioned in the green room at Smithills Hall by Robert Barton, a justice of the peace.

Gordon, aged 75, said: "Our grandfather Geoffrey Hurst was safe from execution because Queen Mary died, but George Marsh wasn't — he had already been burned to death in Broughton because he didn't switch to Catholicism despite being given one last chance before his death.

"Before then George was taken to Smithills Hall and the story goes that the footprint there is his from when he stamped his foot in determination. I have been to inspect the print and I am not too sure I really believe that, although it is a fantastic part of the story.

"It seems fitting that we have found out about him now, 500 years since his birth. I hope to visit the place in Broughton where he died this year to commemorate his fascinating life."