History of Protestantism History of Protestantism Protestantism originated from work of several theologians starting in the 12th century, although there could have been earlier cases of which there is no surviving evidence. Any prominent dissent was subject to persecution by the Roman Catholic Church, and thus attempts to change anything in the Catholic Church were kept isolated or effectively eradicated up to the 16th century. One of the early Protestant Reformers was John Wycliffe, an English theologian and early proponent of reform in the 14th century. His followers, known as Lollards, spread throughout England but soon were persecuted by both the Catholic Church
John Wycliffe Linnell John Wycliffe Linnell John Wycliffe Linnell FRCP MC (31 October 1878 – 1 December 1967) was Consulting Physician at the Metropolitan Hospital, Mildmay Mission Hospital and New End Hospital Hampstead. Linnell was born in Pavenham on 31 October 1878, the son of the Rev. John Edward Linnell. He was educated at Bedford Modern School, the University of London and St John’s College, Cambridge. During World War I he served in France, Gallipoli and Egypt, attaining the rank of Major. He was mentioned in despatches and won a Military Cross. After the war, Linnell became Medical Registrar at the London Hospital.