Nicholas Ridley Biography and Timeline

Birth of Nicholas Ridley

Birth of Nicholas Ridley in northern England.

Role range: 1500-1555

Ordination

Is ordained during the late Henrician church period.

Role range: 1527-1527

Royal Supremacy

Accepts the royal supremacy during England's break with Rome.

Role range: 1534-1534

Archbishop Cranmer

Becomes connected with Thomas Cranmer and reformist church circles.

Role range: 1537-1540

Chaplain

Appointed Chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer

Reformation Theology

Develops Protestant views on scripture and worship.

Role range: 1538-1540

Royal Chaplain

Serves as chaplain in the royal religious establishment.

Role range: 1540-1547

Doctrinal Debate

Engages in reformist debate within the English church.

Role range: 1541-1547

Scriptural Preaching

Supports preaching shaped by scripture and Protestant learning.

Role range: 1543-1547

Pembroke Master

Becomes master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.

Role range: 1545-1550

Royal Preaching

Preaches in favour of evangelical reform under Edward VI.

Role range: 1547-1553

Edwardian Reformation

Supports Protestant reform after Edward VI becomes king.

Role range: 1547-1553

Eucharistic Reform

Rejects traditional Catholic teaching on the mass.

Role range: 1548-1553

Bishop of Rochester

Serves as Bishop of Rochester during Edwardian reforms.

Role range: 1547-1550

Book of Common Prayer

Supports use of the first Edwardian prayer book.

Role range: 1547-1550

Western Rebellion

Supports reform while conservative rebellion challenges the prayer book.

Role range: 1549-1549 – 1547-1550

Bishop of London

Becomes Bishop of London after Bonner is deprived.

Role range: 1550-1553

Altars Replaced by Communion Tables

Ridley directs changes in London churches that replace stone altars with movable communion tables, expressing a more Protestant understanding of the sacrament.

Role range: 1550-1553

Altars Removed

Orders altars replaced by communion tables in London churches.

Role range: 1550-1553

Communion Tables

Promotes communion tables as part of Protestant worship reform.

Role range: 1550-1553

Vestment Reform

Supports simpler worship and ceremonial reform in London.

Role range: 1550-1553

Hooper Controversy

Debates vestments and episcopal authority with John Hooper.

Role range: 1550-1553

Hospitals

Supports the refounding of London hospitals for poor relief.

Role range: 1550-1553

Poor Relief

Encourages organised relief for the poor in London.

Role range: 1550-1553

Book of Common Prayer

Supports the more Protestant second Edwardian prayer book.

Role range: 1550-1553

Eucharistic Doctrine

Teaches a Protestant understanding of the Lord's Supper.

Role range: 1550-1553

Forty Two Articles

Supports Protestant doctrinal statements under Edward VI.

Role range: 1550-1553

Device for the Succession

Supports Edward VI's succession plan favouring Lady Jane Grey.

Role range: 1550-1553

Paul's Cross Sermon

Preaches against Mary and Elizabeth's claims to the throne.

Role range: 1550-1553

Succession

Supports Lady Jane Grey and declares Mary and Elizabeth illegitimate.

Role range: 1550-1553

Lady Jane Grey

Supports Lady Jane Grey after Edward VI's death.

Role range: 1550-1553

Mary I Proclaimed

Mary I's accession leaves Ridley exposed as a Jane Grey supporter.

Role range: 1550-1553

Nicholas Ridley Arrested after Mary's Accession

Nicholas Ridley is imprisoned after supporting Lady Jane Grey and remaining one of the leading bishops identified with Edward VI's Protestant reforms.

Arrest of Nicholas Ridley

Is arrested after Mary I secures the throne.

Role range: 1550-1553

Imprisonment

Is imprisoned in the Tower after the succession crisis.

Role range: 1550-1553

Deprivation

Is deprived of the bishopric of London under Mary I.

Role range: 1550-1553

Transferred to Oxford

Is sent to Oxford with Cranmer and Latimer for disputation.

Role range: 1550-1553

Oxford Disputation

Defends Protestant doctrine during public disputations at Oxford.

Role range: 1550-1553

Condemnation

Is condemned after refusing to recant Protestant doctrine.

Role range: 1550-1553

Real Presence Debate

Rejects Catholic doctrine on transubstantiation.

Role range: 1550-1553