By Marc Smith
It can be argued that "The Restoration Movement" began nearly 500 years before Alexander Campbell's time in England and not America. In the 1380s, a Catholic clergyman and very popular professor at Oxford University in England by the name of John Wycliffe (Wyclif), for the first time translated the Catholic Bible from the Latin into English. There were others that took part in this important first effort but the translation gained Wycliffe's name because of his prominence. It seems, no one had ever dared to make the Bible available in a common tongue before. Along with this valuable first production of the Bible in English, Wycliffe influenced many other professors and had a huge following. He denied the authority of Rome and believed in congregational autonomy. He also taught that the Catholic church needed to turn back to the people all material wealth and property (A Short History of England, pages 251-254). The failed Peasant's Insurrection of 1381 reflects the nationwide unrest caused by this and a new poll tax enacted mainly for Catholic benefit. This revolt ended miserably when the leader of the people, Wat Tyler at Smithfield, was dragged off his horse while honorably talking terms with the king and stabbed to death. However, this did not put to rest the growing tide of sentiment in the minds of the common folk that the Catholic Church was corrupt and the monarchy its willing ally. For John Wycliffe's part he was eventually denounced by the authorities and forced to retire to a small church where he ended his days continuing to write many publications on these same matters. A quote about Wycliffe that shows the disdain of those in authority was made by Thomas Hobbes who sourly said, "After the Bible was translated into English (by Wycliffe) every man, nay, every boy and wench that could read English, thought they spoke with God Almighty and understood what he said." (The History of English, page 110).
From the combination of Wycliffe's teachings and those of others like Walter Lollardo, the movement spread and became deeply rooted in the minds of many. Men went out, called "Poor Priests," and taught everywhere throughout England about the concepts of a return to the New Testament Church and to reject Catholicism. This teaching gave rise to those called "Lollards." These preachers were severely persecuted but were successful in deeply rooting many truths with people of faith. Though things moved very slowly in those times, restoration of the New Testament Church seems to have been on their minds. For the next several generations there were a number of religious groups that arose, collectively called "Dissidents." All of these believed in a general getting back to the Bible and not being a part of a centralized state church. Some of these groups were influenced by Calvin, though many others were not. Oliver Cromwell came from a major Calvinist faction and it is said that his daughter married a member of the Church of Christ who was a Gospel preacher.
Any of us being Christians during this difficult time would have yearned for a readable copy of the Scriptures. With Gutenberg's printing press it became possible. William Tyndale published his translation in 1525. Many believe he was a Christian based on a quotation: "the washinge preacheth unto us that we are clensed wyth Christe's bloud shedynge which was an offering and a satisfaction for the synne of al that repent and believe consentynge and submyttyne themselves unto the wyl of God. The plungynge into the water sygnyfyeth that we die and are buried with Christe as consernyng ye old life of synne..." (From a tract by Wyllyam Copland, London, 1561). So hated was he that he was hounded from town to town until his death; all copies of his translation commanded to be burned. Several years after his death his body was dug up and burned to show the disapproval of the Anglican Church. It did not matter that he was hated so because the Lord's Church seems to have proliferated throughout England till after the 1650s ("..the word of God is living & powerful Heb. 4:12).