Nicholas Ridley Biography

Birth of Nicholas Ridley in northern England.

Is ordained during the late Henrician church period.

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

Becomes connected with Thomas Cranmer and reformist church circles.

Appointed Chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer

Develops Protestant views on scripture and worship.

Serves as chaplain in the royal religious establishment.

Engages in reformist debate within the English church.

Supports preaching shaped by scripture and Protestant learning.

Becomes master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.

Supports Protestant reform after Edward VI becomes king.

Preaches in favour of evangelical reform under Edward VI.

Rejects traditional Catholic teaching on the mass.

Serves as Bishop of Rochester during Edwardian reforms.

Supports use of the first Edwardian prayer book.

Supports reform while conservative rebellion challenges the prayer book.

Orders altars replaced by communion tables in London churches.

Promotes communion tables as part of Protestant worship reform.

Supports simpler worship and ceremonial reform in London.

Becomes Bishop of London after Bonner is deprived.

Debates vestments and episcopal authority with John Hooper.

Supports the refounding of London hospitals for poor relief.

Encourages organised relief for the poor in London.

Supports the more Protestant second Edwardian prayer book.

Teaches a Protestant understanding of the Lord's Supper.

Supports Protestant doctrinal statements under Edward VI.

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

Is arrested after Mary I secures the throne.

Is imprisoned in the Tower after the succession crisis.

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

Supports Lady Jane Grey and declares Mary and Elizabeth illegitimate.

Supports Lady Jane Grey after Edward VI's death.

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

Is deprived of the bishopric of London under Mary I.

Is sent to Oxford with Cranmer and Latimer for disputation.

Is condemned after refusing to recant Protestant doctrine.

Rejects Catholic doctrine on transubstantiation.

Defends Protestant doctrine during public disputations at Oxford.

Faces formal heresy proceedings before execution.

Is degraded from clerical office before execution.

Thomas Cranmer watches Ridley and Latimer burned at Oxford.

Death of Nicholas Ridley, burned at Oxford.

Ridley is burned at Oxford for Protestant doctrine.

Burned at the stake for Protestant doctrine.

Is executed beside Hugh Latimer outside Oxford city walls.

Latimer encourages Ridley before their execution.

Dies refusing to accept Catholic doctrine on the mass.

Is burned with Hugh Latimer as one of the Oxford Martyrs.

Cranmer is later burned, completing the Oxford martyrdoms.

Foxe presents Ridley as a Protestant martyr in Acts and Monuments.

Ridley becomes a lasting symbol of Protestant resistance under Mary.