Lighting the Candle: Latimer, Laughter, and the Soul of England

This year, I have been travelling the length and breadth of England with my new ‘stand-up theology’ show, God, The Bible and Everything (in 60 minutes). On my way to East Leake, just south of Nottingham, I was able to stop by All Saints Church, Thurlaston in Leicestershire. The reason is that I’m planning to make a video documentary about Latimer. Thurlaston is the village in which this wonderful preacher and reformer was born and raised.

I walked around the churchyard where Latimer most likely practised his archery after church. That was the law. A form of national service, it was not inconceivable that he would have to fight in a battle. The Battle of Bosworth had been fought on English soil round about the time of Latimer’s birth. And Latimer would have been a big strapping lad, although hardly a lowly peasant. He was the son of a yeoman farmer.

That’s one reason I’m attracted to Latimer. I too am a farmer’s son and, like Latimer, farming is in my blood, but I’m not really cut out for it either. Latimer was a wit, a wordsmith and a preacher. I call myself a stand-up theologian who’s written scripts for prime-time BBC TV. I’ve had to literally live by my wits like Latimer, who, in his pomp in 1548, was a prime-time preacher at St Paul’s Cross in London.

As a comedy writer, I know full well that some people can have a serious sense of humour failure. Comedy brings controversy. Latimer caused plenty of that. Sometimes it worked in his favour, bringing him to the attention of King Henry VIII, and winning the affection of King Edward VI and the Protestant faction. But sometimes it worked against him, as he made powerful enemies who eventually had him burned alive for heresy along with Nicholas Ridley, former Bishop of London. Both are commemorated by the Church of England, itself forged in those fires, on 16th October.

As a man, I also think about cowardice and courage, especially in the face of physical intimidation. Lots of men wonder how they would have responded to persecution, violence or a death sentence. Would I recant my deeply held beliefs to avoid the flames? Or would I walk in shame through the streets carrying a faggot of wood on my shoulders showing I understood what would happen to us if I stepped out of line again?

Latimer was interrogated and harassed on many occasions, finding himself thrown into the Tower of London on two separate occasions. He was also hauled up before bishops, archbishops and Cardinal Wolsey, as well as preaching to King Henry VIII and Edward VI. Latimer was not one of those awkward types who could start an argument in solitary confinement like Bishop Hooper, who met a similar fate on the pyre. Latimer was careful. But he rarely took a backward step.

When it came to it, he didn’t run away to Europe when the heat was literally turned up. He went willingly to the flames, suffering the same fate as many of his friends, including men who were key to the rediscovery of the scriptures, such as Thomas Bilney, and those who had helped in the early days like Robert Barnes.

The stakes could not have been higher. This was a battle of ideas to the death. But it’s not just about individuals, it’s about the soul of a nation—the nation of England. Would the Anglo-Saxons continue to be spiritually ruled by the Roman Church? Or go their own way and be part of the unseen, worldwide Church? My Protestantism is probably showing. That’s another reason I’m attracted to Latimer’s story. As a Protestant Englishman, Latimer is a key part of the story of England’s soul.

But what really attracted me to this yeoman’s son was his insouciant wit in his final hour. On his way to the flames, according to Foxe, Latimer joked:

“Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man: we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”

Jokes are really important because they reveal what is really important. And this joke shows that Latimer considered his own life to be less important than the theological principles he was defending quite literally to the death. I’m looking forward to telling his inspiring life story.

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James Cary is touring the UK with his show God, the Bible and Everything (in 60 minutes). His new podcast is called The Stand-Up Theologian. He has a video on the making on Hugh Latimer and has written more about his life in his Almanac https://jamescary.substack.com/p/playing-with-fire.

Views expressed in blogs published by the Latimer Trust are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Latimer Trust.