The three Levellers.
The Three Levellers.
On an external wall of St John the Baptist Church in Burford, Oxfordshire, England is a plaque dedicated to the memory of the three Levellers who were executed on 17th May 1649 on the orders of Oliver Cromwell.
The three Levellers were the leaders of 300 men who were also Levellers as they were members of the movement known as Levellers who were those who sought justice and equality, and mostly emanated from the “lower orders”, the poor.
What they stood for would eventually become known as the socialist movement even though at that time it was way ahead of its time.
Oliver Cromwell had built what was known as the New Model Army and those who joined forces with Cromwell did so in the belief that eventually it would lead to among other things religious tolerance and the abolition of taxes to fund churches.
By 1649 the soldiers began to realise that their leaders had betrayed their beliefs and original intention and this created internal tensions that lead to a mutinies during which time ‘leaders’ were either shot or imprisoned.
In total 340 mutineers were captured and imprisoned at the Burford Church by Cromwell and of these three Levellers were shot on Cromwell’s orders.
Private John Church, Corporal Perkins, and Cornet James Thompson were all unduly executed on 17 May 1649 with the result that the Levellers had lost their power base within the New Model Army.
Each year since 1975, Levellers' Day has been held in the Oxfordshire town of Burford to commemorate the three Levellers executed there.
St John the Baptist Church.
Burford, Oxfordshire.
England.
The three Levellers.
The Three Levellers.
On an external wall of St John the Baptist Church in Burford, Oxfordshire, England is a plaque dedicated to the memory of the three Levellers who were executed on 17th May 1649 on the orders of Oliver Cromwell.
The three Levellers were the leaders of 300 men who were also Levellers as they were members of the movement known as Levellers who were those who sought justice and equality, and mostly emanated from the “lower orders”, the poor.
What they stood for would eventually become known as the socialist movement even though at that time it was way ahead of its time.
Oliver Cromwell had built what was known as the New Model Army and those who joined forces with Cromwell did so in the belief that eventually it would lead to among other things religious tolerance and the abolition of taxes to fund churches.
By 1649 the soldiers began to realise that their leaders had betrayed their beliefs and original intention and this created internal tensions that lead to a mutinies during which time ‘leaders’ were either shot or imprisoned.
In total 340 mutineers were captured and imprisoned at the Burford Church by Cromwell and of these three Levellers were shot on Cromwell’s orders.
Private John Church, Corporal Perkins, and Cornet James Thompson were all unduly executed on 17 May 1649 with the result that the Levellers had lost their power base within the New Model Army.
Each year since 1975, Levellers' Day has been held in the Oxfordshire town of Burford to commemorate the three Levellers executed there.
St John the Baptist Church.
Burford, Oxfordshire.
England.