The English Reformers 		October 16
and Martyrs
The title, “The English Reformers and Martyrs” is potentially misleading. The commemoration is not of all English reformers and martyrs over the centuries, nor even of the numerous reformers and martyrs in general of the sixteenth century. Rather, it is a commemoration of two martyr reformers, Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer, who were burned at the stake on 16 October 1555.
In the turmoil of English politics and religion in the 1550s, a number of prominent Protestant leaders became victims of Mary Tudor’s determination to restore Catholicism in England and stamp out Protestantism. Edward’s early death in 1553 brought to the throne Mary Tudor, Henry’s daughter by Catherine of Aragon and a staunch Catholic. She set out vigorously to reinstate traditional Catholicism and papal authority. Many of the leading Protestants fled to the continent. Some other leading Protestants declined or were unable to leave England. The two most significant were Nicholas Ridley, bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer, bishop of Worcester.
Hugh Latimer was born about 1485 in Leicestershire. After education at Cambridge he soon became well-known as an outstanding preacher, attacking abuses in the church and social injustice. In recognition of his ability, he became one of only twelve preachers authorised to preach anywhere in England. He initially opposed the new ideas stemming from the continent, but gradually came to support them. This made the authorities suspect him, but when Thomas Cranmer became archbishop of Canterbury he seemed more secure. Henry VIII appointed him bishop of Worcester in 1535. However, he was forced to resign in 1539 when his Protestant sympathies led him to oppose Henry’s Six Articles. He returned to public and court favour with the accession of Edward VI in 1547. He continued to denounce abuses in church and society. On the accession of Mary Tudor in 1553 he was arrested and sent to the Tower. Challenged on various theological issues, he refused to recant, especially his rejection of the medieval eucharistic doctrine of transubstantiation. He was executed together with Nicholas Ridley.
Nicholas Ridley was from Northumberland, where he was born about 1500. He also attended Cambridge University. There he showed more sympathy for reforming ideas from the outset than Latimer. Ridley was a friend and supporter of Cranmer. He became Cranmer’s chaplain in 1537, master of Pembroke College in 1540, and a royal chaplain in 1541. His reforming sympathies led to a trial for heresy in 1543, but he was acquitted. In the reign of Edward VI, Ridley became bishop of Rochester, and then in 1550 bishop of London. As bishop of London he carried through the principles of the Reformation, but was arrested when Mary Tudor became queen. Like Latimer he refused to recant his Protestant doctrines, and was taken to Oxford with Latimer, where he was tried, and executed for heresy. Latimer’s last words to Ridley at the stake were prophetic: “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” 
Mary’s policy severely weakened her popularity, enhanced the heroism of the Protestant cause, and left a lasting legacy of anti-Catholic bigotry in England for many years.
For Liturgical Use
In 1555 Mary Tudor tried to confirm the return of England to the Catholic fold by executing a number of leading Protestants. In fact this action, more that anything else, undermined Mary’s popularity, gave the Protestant cause an heroic status, and left a lasting legacy of anti-Catholic bigotry in England for many years. The most prominent of these martyrs were Nicholas Ridley, bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer, bishop of Worcester, both of whom were burned at Oxford on 16 October 1555.
Sentence
The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.	Isaiah 50:7
Collects
Everliving God,
your saving power is always at work,
and, by the witness of your faithful martyrs,
you light a candle which cannot be put out;
may the fire of your Spirit burn within us,
and the vision of your light guide every step,
that we may be constant in your service;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Jesus, we remember with sadness
the fires in which Christians
burned other Christians,
when the English hunted and killed each other;
extinguish, we pray, such fires for ever,
all over the world.
Psalms	66:1-11	142
Readings
2 Samuel 22:1-7		A song of deliverance
1 Corinthians 3:10-15	Tested by fire
John 2:13-22		The cleansing of the Temple
Post Communion Sentence
Let those who walk in darkness and have no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon their God.		Isaiah 50:10 (adapted)