Dr Bonner

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (1489 - 1556)

Cranmer was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1533 to 1556. He was a leader of the English Reformation and was responsible for establishing much of the basic form of the Church of England, particularly the Book of Common Prayer. Thomas Cranmer was born into a family of minor nobility of limited financial resources Aslockton, Nottinghamshire. So Thomas and his younger brother were both destined to the Church. He probably received his early education at the local high school, and later won a fellowship at Jesus College, Cambridge. He lost when he got married.

However, the death of his wife, he was re-accepted by the College. He took holy orders in 1523. An outbreak of plague has led Cranmer to leave Cambridge and take refuge in Essex. There, he came to the attention of King Henry VIII. Cranmer's proposed plan for the annulment of the king's marriage with Catherine of Aragon was approved. He was appointed to prepare a case for presentation to British universities and was a member of the embassy in Rome. In 1532 he became ambassador to the Roman emperor. Cranmer has been sent to Germany to investigate Lutheranism. There he met and married Margaret Osiander, the niece of a prominent Lutheran reformer. After his surprise appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury, he was forced to hide his marriage. Given the pope's approval of his appointment Cranmer was able to declare the king's marriage with Catherine to be zero. About four months later, he celebrated the marriage of the king and Anne Boleyn. Thomas Cromwell, Cranmer supported the idea of royal supremacy in which the king was considered sovereign over his kingdom, including the Church. So with Cromwell, he supported the translation of the Bible into English.

In 1545 he wrote the litany, which is basically still in use. In the battle between conservatives and reformers, it was not until the short reign of Edward VI he was able to make substantial modifications doctrinal. After the death of Edward VI, Cranmer supported the king's choice of his successor in the person of Lady Jane Grey. However, his reign lasted only nine days before the Roman Catholic Mary I came to power. Cranmer was arrested and accused of treason. During a lengthy trial and imprisonment, he was forced several retractions, and finally a public proclamation of his mistake in supporting the Protestant Reformation. Despite this, Marie was quick to condemn him to death by fire at Oxford in March 1556. As he died he placed his right hand with which he had signed the recantation in the heart of the fire, saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. I see the heavens open and Jesus standing in the right God.

Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley (bishops)

Latimer and Ridley, Thomas Cranmer were martyred by Queen Mary. Latimer and Ridley were burnt and 16 October 1555. The three, who became known as the Oxford three were probably the best known of the 300 people who were burned to death for their faith by the Roman Catholic Queen Mary. From the first years of Hugh Latimer is unclear. His year of birth is usually given in 1485. His father was a prosperous farmer Leicestershire.

Hugh was sent to Cambridge where he obtained his BA 1510 and MA in 1514. From there, he began to study theology. As a young man he was firmly opposed to Protestant ideas and arguments led the Protestant meeting houses. However, thanks to the influence of Thomas Bilney, Latimer became, almost overnight, a popular preacher Protestant. His sermons are not doctrine, but sought to encourage greater piety to live upright and fervent prayer. Thanks to the influence of Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cranmer, Latimer became bishop of Rochester in 1535. However, he said.