John Wycliffe
John Wycliffe was born on a sheep farm 200 miles (321 km) from London. He started university at Oxford University in 1346, but, because of outbreaks of the plague, he was not able to earn his degree until 1372. By the time he had earned his degree he was considered Oxford's leading theologian and philosopher. In 1374 he became a rector at a parish in Lutterworth and a year later he was up for a position in Lincoln or a bishopship at Worcester, but was rejected for both. This may have been part of the reason that he attacked the church later in his life.
With an attack by France looming, Rome was demanding financial support from England. Wycliffe told John of Gaunt, his local lord not to support the notion when he went to Parliament. He argued that the church was already too wealthy and Christ called his disciples to poverty, not wealth. He also said that if anyone should keep the taxes that the Romans wanted, then they English government should.
Wycliffe was taken to London to answer charges of heresy for his objections. The trial started off as a shouting match and then became an all-out brawl, effectively ending the meeting. Three months later Wycliffe was issued five church edicts by Pope Gregory XI. In the edicts wycliffe was accused of 18 counts of heresy and was called 'the master of errors'.
At a hearing before the archbishop at Lambeth Palace Wycliffe stated that he was ready to defend his convictions until he died. He went on to say that the church and the pope were second in command to the Holy Scripture. This didn't sit well with the church authorities, but because of the schism of 1378 when rival popes were elected and Wycliffe's popularity in England, he was just placed under house arrest and left to be the pastor to his parish in Lutterworth.
He believed that every christian should have a copy of the bible that they could read, but there were only copies in Latin at the time, so he started translating it into English with the help of a friend, John Purvey. The church opposed this, believing that only learned scholars should be able to read the bible because they have high intelligence, and allowing common people and women to read the bible was to destroy it. Wycliffe argued that the apostles and Moses heard God's law in their own tongue, so why shouldn't everyone else?
Wycliffe died before his translation was complete, and before the church could charge him with heresy again. John Purvey is considered responsible for the completion of the Wycliffe Bible. Wycliffe's followers became known as Lollards and were driven into hiding until the English Reformation, when their views became widely accepted.
As the officials didn't like his message, but it was still spreading, Wycliffe's body was dug up 43 years after his death, cremated and his ashes were spread in the river Swift. This action was believed to destroy all metaphorical and physical remains of Wycliffe, but it was seen by his followers, because all rivers lead to the sea and the sea is all over the world, as the perfect way to spread his message all over the world.
With an attack by France looming, Rome was demanding financial support from England. Wycliffe told John of Gaunt, his local lord not to support the notion when he went to Parliament. He argued that the church was already too wealthy and Christ called his disciples to poverty, not wealth. He also said that if anyone should keep the taxes that the Romans wanted, then they English government should.
Wycliffe was taken to London to answer charges of heresy for his objections. The trial started off as a shouting match and then became an all-out brawl, effectively ending the meeting. Three months later Wycliffe was issued five church edicts by Pope Gregory XI. In the edicts wycliffe was accused of 18 counts of heresy and was called 'the master of errors'.
At a hearing before the archbishop at Lambeth Palace Wycliffe stated that he was ready to defend his convictions until he died. He went on to say that the church and the pope were second in command to the Holy Scripture. This didn't sit well with the church authorities, but because of the schism of 1378 when rival popes were elected and Wycliffe's popularity in England, he was just placed under house arrest and left to be the pastor to his parish in Lutterworth.
He believed that every christian should have a copy of the bible that they could read, but there were only copies in Latin at the time, so he started translating it into English with the help of a friend, John Purvey. The church opposed this, believing that only learned scholars should be able to read the bible because they have high intelligence, and allowing common people and women to read the bible was to destroy it. Wycliffe argued that the apostles and Moses heard God's law in their own tongue, so why shouldn't everyone else?
Wycliffe died before his translation was complete, and before the church could charge him with heresy again. John Purvey is considered responsible for the completion of the Wycliffe Bible. Wycliffe's followers became known as Lollards and were driven into hiding until the English Reformation, when their views became widely accepted.
As the officials didn't like his message, but it was still spreading, Wycliffe's body was dug up 43 years after his death, cremated and his ashes were spread in the river Swift. This action was believed to destroy all metaphorical and physical remains of Wycliffe, but it was seen by his followers, because all rivers lead to the sea and the sea is all over the world, as the perfect way to spread his message all over the world.