Other English Heroes of Cambridge

The lectures and tours offered by Ranald gave us exposure to other heroes of Cambridge such as King Henry the 6th, Lady Margaret, Thomas Cranmer, Newton, Martyn, and Wilberforce.

King Henry the 6th founded two colleges: Eton and King's. He was generous to the poor and hated cruelity and immorality. He refused to punish those who plotted to kill him. "I prefer the Kingdom of Heaven to the kingdom of this world" --as he faced death in the Tower of London.

Lady Margaret Beaufort is mother of the Tudor Dynasty. Lady Margaret outlived three husbands and adopted the lifestyle of a nun. With John Fisher, she founded Christ's and St John's colleges. She also funded Erasmus' 3 year stay in Queens' College and professorships of divinity in Cambridge and Oxford. "Thine O Lord are all things that are in heaven and that are on the earth...in the simplicity of my heart I offer myself unto thee this day to be they servant for ever, in humble submission."


Thomas Cranmer is considered father of the Church of England. He was a fellow of Jesus College and lecurer at Magdalene College (pronounced "Maudlin"). Like fellow reformers who met in the White Hourse Inn, he promoted Luther's teaching about forgiveness of sins and assurance of God's acceptance. Cranmer wrote the preface t the first English Bible to be placed in every church in England in 1540. He prepared the first Prayer Book in English. Mary Tudor put him to death in Oxford because he rejected the authority of the Pope and the Mass. "Therefore, every man that cometh to the reading of this holy book ought to bring with him first and foremost this fear of Almighty God, and then next a firm and stable purpose to reform his own self according hereunto."

Issac Newton is called the founder of modern science. He came to faith in Christ in his first term at Trinity College under the guidance of his tutor, Isaac Barrow. He followed Bacon's principle of studying the two books of God -- Scripture and Nature. Became a math professor at 26 years and discovered that the same law of gravity applies to planets and apples. Also, with his prism, dicovered to origin of the rainbow. Importantly, Newton attributed all his discoveries to the Spirit of the Living God. "This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being, this Being governing all things...as Lord God" -- from his Principia Mathematica.


Henry Martyn was an apostle to the muslim world. Martyn was challenged to serve Christ overseas through the preaching of Charles Simeon, then vicar of Holy Trinity Church. Martyn went to India in 1805 as a chaplain in the East India Company. He translated the New Testament into Hindustani (Urdu) and Persian. He often debated Christianity and Islam with leading muslims in Persia. He died at an early age of 31 years of TB and a broken heart. "In prayer at night my soul panted after God, and longed to be entirely conformed to His image. I do not know anthing would be a heaven to me, but the service of Christ, and the enjoyment of His presence."


William Wilberforce was the liberator of the slaves. Wilberforce was elected MP for Hull in 1780 while still an undergraduate at St John's. Came to faith in Christ following a European tour with Isaac Milner. Wilberforce campaigned against slavery with Thomas Clarkson and challenged the currupt life style of the nation in his Reformation of the Manners, which was translated into several languages. One of the founders of the Church Missionary Society and British and Foreign Bible Society. "...unless God has raise you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and evils. But if God be for you, who can be against you" (letter to Wilberforce from John Wesley)