Wycliffe film prompts gratitude for ‘Morning Star of the Reformation’

Back in 2020, Christian filmmaker Murdo Macleod spoke exclusively to The Christian Institute about his upcoming film Morningstar, which was then still in its early stages. Covid was causing setbacks to production, but fast forward to the present day and the docudrama on the life of John Wycliffe is now complete and is in the middle of a screening tour of the UK.

Born in the early 1300s, Wycliffe grew up amid the dominance of Roman Catholicism. But, now described as the ‘Morning Star of the Reformation’, Wycliffe used scripture to rail against growing corruption in the Church long before Martin Luther posted his 95 theses at the Castle Church in Wittenberg.

The Black Death – which Wycliffe considered a judgment from God – was sweeping across Europe at the time. That, alongside the practices of the Roman Church, form much of the backdrop to this extraordinary man’s life and work.

The idea that most goaded Wycliffe, of course, was the notion that the Bible was too advanced to be studied by anyone but the powerful and scholarly. Wycliffe was a prolific writer, and Morningstar explores how key trials in his life each spawned another of his books, culminating in the completion of his magnum opus: a complete translation of the Bible into English from the Latin Vulgate.

He had long believed all should have access to the Word of God, and this feat of literary and scholarly work finally made the Scriptures directly accessible to the common man for the first time. He said, “Believers should ascertain for themselves what are the true matters of their faith, by having the Scriptures in a language which all may understand.”

In 1381 he was forced out of Oxford for denying the Roman Catholic dogma of transubstantiation, and he retired to Lutterworth. The film flits seamlessly from stylised recreations of the past to present-day interviews, including with the current Rector of Lutterworth Parish Church. There’s also beautiful cinematography to enjoy from across Britain, and even of Bruges in Belgium, where Wycliffe spent time in 1374.

From eye-catching dramatic sequences to tours of historic buildings, the film’s material is varied and engaging, while Jared Morgan gives a charismatic performance as Wycliffe.

Nevertheless, Wycliffe’s life of faith was perhaps best summed up by Revd Dr Ian Hamilton, whose admiration for the man is infectious. Wycliffe, he said, “was simply a Bible man … as all followers of Christ should be”.

Screening dates can be found at morningstarfilm.co.uk.