Wycliffe Bible

The Wycliffe Bible is the first complete translation of the Bible into Middle English, produced in the late 14th century (around 1382–1395). It is traditionally attributed to John Wycliffe and his followers, often called the Lollards. This translation was based on the Latin Vulgate, since the original Hebrew and Greek texts were not widely available in England at that time. The Wycliffe Bible made Scripture accessible to English-speaking laypeople for the first time, challenging the Church’s control over religious knowledge. Its creation marked a major milestone in both English religious history and the development of the English language. Because of its association with reformist ideas, the Church initially banned and condemned the translation.