28 December 1384 A.D. Dr. John Wycliffe—England’s Beloved Magister, Professor, Author, Reformer and Bible Translator Suffers a Paralyzing Stroke During Divine Worship (Innocents’ Day) at Lutterworth Church

28 December 1384 A.D.  Dr. John Wycliffe—England’s Beloved Magister, Professor, Author, Reformer and Bible Translator Suffers a Paralyzing Stroke During Divine Worship (Innocents’ Day) at Lutterworth Church

While Wycliffe was in the parish church on Holy Innocents' Day, Dec. 28, 1384, he again suffered a stroke, and was carried out the side-door of his church, in his chair. John Wycliffe died on the last day of the year, three days later. The Council of Constance declared Wycliffe (on May 4, 1415) a stiff-necked heretic and under the ban of the Church. It was decreed that his books be burned and his remains be exhumed. This last did not happen till twelve more years later, when at the command of Pope Martin V they were dug up, burned, and the ashes cast into the river Swift which flows through Lutterworth.

Posthumous burning of the bones deceased and buried Dr. John Wycliffe