Chronological overview of the major figures of the Protestant Reformation and the Puritan movement
Before the Reformation officially kicked off, these individuals laid the essential groundwork by advocating for Scripture in the vernacular and challenging papal authority.
John Wycliffe (c. 1328–1384) – Known as the "Morning Star of the Reformation." He translated the Bible into Middle English.
Jan Hus (c. 1369–1415) – A Czech reformer influenced by Wycliffe; he was burned at the stake for heresy, prophesying that a greater reformer would come after him.
These are the heavy hitters who broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and established the foundational doctrines of Protestantism ($Sola\ Fide$, $Sola\ Scriptura$, etc.).
Martin Luther (1483–1546) – Sparked the Protestant Reformation in 1517 by nailing his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg Church door.
Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531) – Leader of the Swiss Reformation in Zürich, known for his strict adherence to Scripture and clash with Luther over the Lord's Supper.
William Tyndale (c. 1494–1536) – Translated the New Testament into English directly from the Greek, for which he was martyred. His work heavily influenced the King James Bible.
Philip Melanchthon (1497–1560) – Luther’s brilliant academic right-hand man who drafted the Augsburg Confession.
John Calvin (1509–1564) – The French theologian who systematized Reformed theology in Geneva with his Institutes of the Christian Religion.
John Knox (c. 1514–1572) – A student of Calvin who brought the Reformation to Scotland, establishing the Presbyterian Church.
The Puritans arose within the Church of England, wanting to "purify" it of remaining Catholic practices. They placed immense emphasis on personal piety, deep theology, and experiential faith.
William Perkins (1558–1602) – Often called the "Father of Puritanism." He systematized Puritan theology and heavily influenced the next generation.
William Ames (1576–1633) – A student of Perkins whose writings on ethics and theology became foundational in both England and New England.
Thomas Goodwin (1600–1679) – An influential independent Puritan theologian and member of the Westminster Assembly.
Richard Baxter (1615–1691) – A moderate Puritan pastor known for his masterpiece on pastoral ministry, The Reformed Pastor.
John Owen (1616–1683) – Widely considered the greatest theologian of the Puritan movement (often called the "Calvin of England"). He wrote deeply on the Holy Spirit and mortification of sin.
John Bunyan (1628–1688) – A Baptist preacher jailed for his faith, during which time he wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress, the most famous allegory in Christian history.
John Flavel (c. 1627–1691) – A Presbyterian Puritan preacher known for his warm, deeply encouraging, and pastoral style.
While technically past the "Puritan" era, these men inherited the theological mantle of the Reformers and Puritans, fueling a massive evangelical revival.
Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) – Often called the "Last American Puritan." A brilliant philosopher-theologian who was a key figure in the First Great Awakening.
John Wesley (1703–1791) & Charles Wesley (1707–1788) – Leaders of the Methodist revival in England, emphasizing holiness and widespread evangelism.
George Whitefield (1714–1770) – A Calvinistic Methodist and perhaps the greatest open-air evangelist of his century, preaching across Britain and America.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–1892) – Known as the "Prince of Preachers."
The Bridge: Spurgeon did not view himself as an innovator, but as an heir. He famously steeped himself in the writings of the Puritans (especially John Bunyan and John Owen). He effectively bridged the deep, experiential Calvinism of the Puritans with the mass-evangelism techniques of the 19th century, preaching to millions at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London.