In England’s darkness, remember the Oxford Martyrs

On Oct. 16, 1555, Bishop Hugh Latimer and Bishop Nicholas Ridley were led to the stakes in Oxford, England. There, they were burned alive, convicted of heresy due to their rejection of the Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation. Along with Thomas Cranmer, these two men had been leaders of the English Reformation. Together, these men were known as the “Oxford Martyrs.”

At the stake, Bishop Latimer is recorded to have said to his brother bishop, "Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”

The candle’s light of the Church of England has become faint at best. On Oct. 3, 2025, she took yet another step toward extinguishing its light. On that day, Sarah Mullaly was selected as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. By her own description, Mullaly is pro-choice. In addition, she helped lead the successful effort in 2023 for the Church of England to approve blessings for same-sex couples.

Her appointment, then, marks a clear signal that the Church of England is doubling down on its doctrinal and ethical collapse. In its collapse, the Church of England repeatedly has compromised with the secular elements of the culture in its own country and in the West more generally. In many cases, this compromise has manifested through a generalized unwillingness to exercise ecclesial authority, a muddling posture leading to theological, liturgical, and ethical anarchy. At other times, the push has been more direct but no less damaging to God’s Kingdom in the U.K.

Thus, rather than guarding the flock, the Church of England has permitted open hunting season on Christ’s sheep by various wolves. Mullaly will at best continue and at worst accelerate these trends. She will not speak boldly for the unborn and for a Biblical view of marriage and sexuality. Instead, Mullaly in all probability will “nicely” pull the Church of England further away from orthodoxy.

The time of Latimer and Ridley’s martyrdom also seemed like a dark moment. It was made all the more dark by the light that had flashed in the preceding years. Under Edward VI (reigned 1547-1553), the English Reformation had moved forward with rapid speed. Composed by Thomas Cranmer, the first Book of Common Prayer had been published in 1549 with a more Reformed revision in 1552. Compiled also by Cranmer, a thoroughly Protestant Book of Homilies had been distributed for use in parishes with no ministers possessing licenses to preach.

Then, on July 6, 1553, the young Edward died. His half-sister, Mary, took the throne. She sought to return England to Roman allegiance, liturgy, and theology, earning her nickname, “Bloody Mary,” from those Protestants killed under her reign, including Latimer, Ridley, and, a year later, Cranmer, too.

In God’s providence, England’s course changed again. Queen Mary also reigned but a short time, passing away after only five years on the throne. Her half-sister, Elizabeth, would reign for more than 40 years. She would restore England’s commitment to Protestantism and steer a moderate but steady course to maintain that commitment.

Thus, during those darker times for English Protestantism, Latimer and Ridley indeed lit a candle that burned into a bright flame. It was the flame of the gospel, shorn of obscuring accretions. It was the flame of the gospel adorned with the Scripture-saturated Prayer Book liturgy, the sermons of the Homilies, and, eventually, the thoroughly Protestant Articles of Religion. This candle was lit because, 470 years ago, England had churchmen willing to fight the wolves. They were willing to pay any cost to remain faithful and to protect the faithful. They did so with eloquence, tenacity, and bravery.

In its present darkness, the Church of England needs Latimers and Ridleys now. They might not face the stake but they will confront the fires of societal scorn. They will not be debating Transubstantiation but must face down the false gods of the Sexual Revolution.

Faithful men and women remain in the Church of England. Will todays Latimers and Ridleys come from among them? If they do arise, who knows what God might do? As the 16th century showed, reform can happen when we least expect it. Let the candle Latimer and Ridley lit never go out in England. May God instead fan it into a flame, like before, yet still greater.