Western History 78: Who were some of the Early Church reformers?

Most of the early church reformers attacked the lavish nature of the local parishes, corruption in the church hierarchy and the elaborate ceremonies that defined the pomposity of the clerical orders. Great motivation was a sense that the church body had become too detached from the mainstream population.

Some key reformers here include

John Wycliffe – Yorkshireman. Translated the Vulgate (Latin Bible) into Middle English in 1382 producing Wycliffe’s Bible. Followers were known as Lollards.

Savonarola – Active in the Italian Renaissance, championed a more puritanical approach that sought the destruction of secular art and a church renewal that would turn Florence into a New Jerusalem. Burnt at the stake in 1498.

John Hus – Czech Reformer and National Hero. Founder of Hussitism. Key thinker in Bohemian revolution (the most significant pre-Reformation movement). Attacked moral failings of the church, its bishops and pope. Hus was eventually burnt at the stake after being condemned by the Pope and placed on trial for his insubordination.

Actions of each together with others such as Jerome of Prague, Peter Waldo and Johan Wessel would influence such later reformers as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin and John Knox.