John Mason, the Prophet Who Would Rise Again

Water Stratford: three centuries ago a rector here promised to rise from the dead, and his followers made sure to check.

John Mason, rector of Water Stratford, became an ardent visionary in the late seventeenth century. He came to believe he was the prophet Elias, sent to announce the Second Coming, and taught that Christ would appear in this small Ouse-side village. Crowds of followers left their homes and packed every house and barn around. Mason declared that after his death he would rise again in three days. When he died in 1694 his followers refused to accept it, and his body had to be dug up to prove he was truly dead. For years afterwards believers still met at a spot they called Holy Ground.