The English Reformation made for some curious heretics. Certainly Thomas Bilney was among those. Like a number of English clergy seeking serious reform, Bilney retained much of the Catholic in his mind, speech, and practice. In the 1520s-30s that was often not enough to keep in the good graces of church and king.

Bilney was born in Norwich, England, in 1495, practically on the eve of the chaotic century in which the English Reformation took place. He received his education at Cambridge University at Trinity Hall. He earned an LL.B and upon graduation took holy orders. His position left him uninspired and he turned to a new Greek translation of the New Testament published by Erasmus in 1516. From his first reading of the text, Bilney was moved to make the volume, and the New Testament generally, his only text of study and reflection. His choice caught on at Cambridge, which is not surprising, since reformation was in the air at the time, with many clergy questioning the doctrine and practices of the established church.

As in later generations, there was a call to return to the simple scriptures for how to live the Christian life. Bilney began to preach throughout the region, criticizing the common ritual and practice of saint and relic veneration. He also preached against the idea that saints could or would intervene on behalf of people who prayed to them. Bilney held that only God and his son, Jesus Christ, could hear and answer prayers. At this point, Bilney had not stirred the ire of church leaders and he was allowed to continue preaching. He continued his entire life to honor the Pope, the Mass, the idea of transubstantiation and the authority of the church as a whole.

However, his preaching reached the ears of the powerful Cardinal Wolsey, and Bilney was summoned to explain himself. Wolsey must have frightened Bilney, because before the meeting was over, Bilney had made an oath that he did not believe in the doctrines of Martin Luther and that he would not preach of them. He returned to preaching. The next year, while he was preaching near London, he was dragged from the pulpit in Stl. George's chapel. He was arrested and held in the Tower.

Shortly after his imprisonment, he appeared before Wolsey and other bishops. With little evidence, he was convicted of heresy. Rather than send him to his execution, it was decided that he would be allowed to remain in prison until he agreed to recant, which he did, approximately one year later.At that time he returned to Cambridge, but was laden with guilt over the recantation of his beliefs. He was no longer allowed to preach in churches, but two years after he was released from the Tower, he began preaching in the streets and in the countryside, until the Bishop of Norwich heard Bilney was preaching in the area, and ordered him arrested. His religious orders were stripped from him and he was turned over to the English government for execution. He was burned in August 1531.