John Hopton

A brief biography.

* The Dominican John Hopton was the chairman of the Inquisition in the process of Thomas Cranmer (02.07.1482-21.03.1556), archbishop of Canterbury who died at the stake in Oxford on 21 March 1556.

Thomas Cranmer was the first Protestant archbishop of Canterbury (1533-1556), adviser to the English kings Henry VIII and Edward VI. As archbishop, he put the English Bible in parish churches, drew up the Book of Common Prayer, and composed a litany that remains in use today.

Cranmer's most influential adviser was probably Martin Bucer from Strassburg, whose position on the Eucharist is reflected especially in the communion service of the second Prayer Book. Other advisers were the Pole Jan Laski the Younger and the Englishman Nicholas Ridley.

* Denounced for promoting Protestantism by the Catholic Mary I, Cranmer was convicted of heresy and burned at the stake in presence of John Hopton  in Oxford, 21 March 1556.

Philately

On this page: at the left John Hopton.

Text: Thomas Cranmer, on the day of his execution, stood up for his conscience before God rather than obedience to the state.
At the stake, he first thrust into the flames the
hand that had once written the recantations.

Great Britain 1984 Booklet: The story of our Christian Heritage.

Mi Heftchen-Blatt 1984, 119; Sc BK 1984, 148.

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