biography
| name: |
Wycliffe or Wicliffe, John
|
| |
also spelled Wyclif, Wycliff
|
pronunciation:
[wiklif]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (c.1330–84)
|
| biography:
| Religious reformer, born near Richmond, Yorkshire, N England, UK. He studied at Oxford, where he taught philosophy, then entered the Church, becoming Rector of Lutterworth, Leicestershire, in 1374. He was sent to Bruges to treat with ambassadors from the Pope about ecclesiastical abuses, but his views were found unacceptable, and he was prosecuted. He then attacked the Church hierarchy, priestly power, and the doctrine of transubstantiation, wrote many popular tracts in English (as opposed to Latin), and issued the first English translation of the Bible (1380). His opinions were condemned, and he was forced to retire to Lutterworth, where he wrote prolifically until his death. The characteristic of his teaching was its insistence on inward religion in opposition to the formalism of the time. His followers were known as Lollards, and the influence of his teaching was widespread in England, in many respects anticipating the Reformation. |
|
|
