
LINCOLN MEDICAL SOCIETY
Past mmeting
Presidential Address
Jonathan Martin - The incendiary of York Minster
13th November 2024
Paul Barczak qualified at St George’s Hospital ,London and came to Lincoln as a consultant psychiatrist after training in Nottingham and Birmingham
Having established a community based service with outreach clinics in gp surgeries he was tasked with developing a forensic service with court,probation and prison liaison clinics as well as a low secure inpatient unit-one of the first in the country
He now enjoys retirement pursuing interests in art,music ,history ,travel ,cycling,fine wine and cooking

Jonathan Martin - The incendiary of York Minster.
Jonathan Martin was born in Hexham to an itinerant sword instructor in 1782. Apprenticed as a tanner he was later press ganged into the navy where he served for 6 years experiencing what he later regarded as a number of miraculous escapes from death thanks to the direct intervention of God
Jumping ship in Cadiz he returned to England, married and resumed work as a tanner
He converted to Methodism but was expelled because of his reckless behaviour and was later detained in Auckland asylum for threatening to shoot the Bishop.
Making his escape he eventually found work in York where he experienced visions and dreams instructing him to punish the sins of the Anglican clergy by setting fire to York Minster
His trial which was well recorded was a sensation although he was found to be insane and spent his remaining years in the newly constructed Hospital of StMary of Bethlehem, popularly known as Bedlem
Jonathan Martin - The incendiary of York MinsterJonathan Martin - The incendiary of York Minster