John Wyclif was born into a wealthy family at Hipswell near Wycliffe in the neighbour-hood of Richmond Castle in North Yorkshire c.1330. From 1354 to 1381 we find Wyclif connected with several Oxford colleges, above all with Balliol College, where he was Master till 1361. Throughout his life Wyclif was the protégé of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and held various livings, prebends, and curacies at Fillingham, Aust, Bristol, Ludgershall, and Lutterworth.

At Oxford Wyclif was a renowned lecturer in theology and philosophy. He was an extreme realist and at the same time a radical reformer. After negotiations with papal envoys in Bruges in 1374 he openly attacked the authority and abuses of the Church. He refuted papal supremacy over the English church and denied the doctrine of transubstantiation. Wyclif's teachings led to repeated threats of excommunication culminating in his final condemnation in 1380/82. In 1381 he retired to his vicarage at Lutterworth, where he stayed till his death in 1384. His followers were called Lollards.

In contrast to Wyclif's numerous Latin writings, not a single English work can be attributed to him with certainty. Most works, particularly the Bible translations, are nowadays subsumed under the heading Wycliffite writings associated with the names of his disciples, John Purvey (d. 1428) and Nicholas of Hereford (d.1420).

Home > Navigation > Authors > John Wyclif