English Reformation was not, by itself, a Reformation. However, the political break with Rome was inseparable from the success of Protestantism. English Catholicism was strong and popular in the early 1500s, and while there were those who held Protestant sympathies, they would have remained a religious minority if political events had not intervened. An earlier reform movement that anticipated some Protestant teachings but remained outside the religious mainstream was Lollardy. Derived from the writings of John Wycliffe, a 14th-century theologian and Bible translator, Lollardy stressed the primacy of Scripture and emphasised the preaching of the word over the sacrament of the altar,
Wycliffe College, Toronto in its charter, the University of Toronto has granted theology degrees conjointly with Wycliffe College and other TST member institutions. An act respecting Wycliffe College, being chapter 112 of the Statutes of Ontario, 1916, was repealed and the "Wycliffe College Act, 2002" was substituted. Wycliffe College's arms were registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on March 15, 2007. The Wycliffe College Chapel sanctuary features several stained glass windows, including "Our Lord", "St. Paul", "St. John", and "Timothy" by Robert McCausland Limited. Wycliffe College is situated in the centre of the University of Toronto campus, on the corner of Hoskin Avenue