Welcome to Williamthorpe

William Thorpe was a 14th-century English theologian and Lollard preacher who was born in the village of Baslow in Derbyshire. He was educated at Oxford University and became a priest, but he later became disillusioned with the Catholic Church and joined the Lollard movement. The Lollards were a group of religious reformers who believed in the importance of reading and interpreting the Bible for oneself, rather than relying on the clergy to interpret it for them.

Thorpe was a prolific writer and preacher, and he traveled extensively throughout England, spreading the Lollard message. He was arrested several times for his beliefs and spent time in prison, but he continued to preach and write even after his release. His most famous work is the "Testament of William Thorpe," which is an autobiographical account of his life and his conversion to the Lollard movement.

Despite his popularity among the Lollards, Thorpe was eventually arrested and charged with heresy. He was tried and convicted, and he was burned at the stake in 1407. His death was a significant event in the history of the Lollard movement, and it helped to inspire other reformers to continue the fight for religious freedom and the right to interpret the Bible for oneself. Today, Thorpe is remembered as a courageous and influential figure in the history of English religious reform.