A petition has been launched for the Queen to issue a Royal Pardon to the last Abbot of Glastonbury, Richard Whiting, who was hanged on the Tor in 1539.

Whiting presided over Glastonbury Abbey at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, which took place from 1536 to 1541 under King Henry VIII.

The king had him hanged, drawn and quartered after his conviction for treason for remaining loyal to Rome. He is considered a martyr by the Catholic Church, which beatified him on May 13 1895.

Now, Amanda Marshall and a group of 12 others have launched a petition calling for the Queen to grant a Royal Pardon to Richard Whiting, as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year.

Amanda said: "We love our town, it truly is wonder-filled as well as being a place of pilgrimage, promise, mystery and historically was once regarded as 'The holyest erthe in Englande'.

"With it being the unique and historical occasion of Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee next year, traditionally years of forgiveness and reconciliation, we have been inspired to petition Her Majesty asking for Her consideration in granting a Posthumous Royal Pardon for a man of Glastonbury.

"In the turbulent times of 1539 a terrible and brutal murder occurred in our town. A good and decent man was dragged around our streets then up to Glastonbury Tor where he, along with two others were hanged.

"His body was then dismembered and put on public display at different locations. This ignoble act destroyed the whole community.

"He was an elderly gentleman and a man of God, his name was Richard Whiting and he was the last Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey.

"We are asking for justice and an act of mercy for this worthy Englishman. For Abbot Whiting to be exonerated of any accused wrongdoing and granted by the Grace of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll, a Royal Pardon, absolution and restored to the right of being known as innocent.

"This would bring much peace and healing to our town."

At the time of writing (September 2), the petition had been signed by more than 300 people. To view and sign the petition, you can visit the change.org page here.