A campaign to establish a public memorial to Scotland’s only Catholic martyr on the site of his execution in Glasgow has received the backing of the city’s councillors. St John Ogilvie, a Jesuit priest, was hanged and drawn at Glasgow Cross in 1615. He had been preaching in secret and celebrating clandestine Masses. He was tried for refusing to pledge allegiance to King James VI and I. The Knights of St Columba are seeking to raise funds for a statue of the saint. The campaign began after a call from Sancta Familia Media, a parish group based in Motherwell diocese, on social media. Both Labour and SNP councillors pledged their support to the project ahead of local elections scheduled to take place yesterday. Frank McAveety, Glasgow council’s Labour leader before the election, told the Scottish Catholic Observer: “I will be delighted to assist with efforts to establish a permanent memorial to St John Ogilvie. His life is of significant historical and religious importance and Glasgow Cross is a site of rich religious history.” David McDonald, the SNP’s deputy leader on the council, said: “I remember learning about St John Ogilvie at school, and through many conversations with my late grandfather, so I know he’s still a living figure for many in the Church and I’d be keen to help.” He added: “I think there’s also something to be said for looking at the story of St John Ogilvie in the light of Scottish history and recent events around the world. [A] memorial could give an example of what happens when people don’t listen to each other.”