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 PrintableVersion Some significant anniversaries in 2005Thomas Tallis was born in 1505. One of the first composers of English Protestant church music, his music is still much performed and recorded. 1555 was the peak year for the burning of Protestants under Queen Mary Tudor, some of whom are mentioned individually below. In all, about 290 died this excruciating death - men, women and even young people, and preponderantly working-class - and thereby ensured that Mary's attempt to re-establish Roman Catholicism died with her. Mrs. Mary Jane Kinnaird (later Lady Kinnaird) opened a home in London for nurses returning from the Crimean War in 1855. This became a hostel for working girls, and was the forerunner of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). A law was passed in France in 1905, decreeing the complete separation of church and state. Billy Graham's second London crusade was held at Harringay arena in 1955, followed by a mission at Cambridge University. This led to the series of correspondence on Fundamentalism in The Times, which was subsequently published as a booklet. Tom Allan's 'Tell Scotland' crusade took place in the Kelvin Hall in 1955. FAMOUS BOOKSPhilip Doddridge's Hymns were published posthumously in 1755. James Denney's The Death of Christ was published in 1905. The Banner of Truth Magazine began publication in 1955. Leon Morris's The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross was published in 1955. C.S. Lewis's Surprised by Joy was published in 1955, describing his conversion first to Theism, and then to Christianity. 'I was driven to Whipsnade one sunny morning. When we set out I did not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and when we reached the zoo I did.' THROUGH THE YEARJanuaryJohn R. Mott, ecumenical pioneer, died aged 89 on January 31 1955. A founder of the World Student Christian Federation in 1895, he coined the phrase: 'The evangelisation of the world in this generation.' FebruaryJohn Rogers was burnt for his faith at Smithfield in London on February 4 1555. Rogers had been an assistant to William Tyndale in translating the New Testament. 'That which I have preached I will seal with my blood', he said on his way to his death. Philipp Jakob Spener, an early leader of the German pietist movement, died on February 5 1705. He had hoped to reform the Lutheran church generally, but by his death the Pietists had become a distinct group within it. Rowland Taylor, formerly a prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral, was burnt on February 9 1555 at Hadleigh, Suffolk, where he had been rector. John Hooper, bishop of Gloucester, was burnt in his cathedral city on February 9 1555, in the presence of 7,000 people. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, was martyred probably on February 23 155 A.D. during a festival of games there. He is remembered for his refusal to denounce Christ, saying: 'Eighty and six years have I served him and he has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?' MarchFrancis and Edith Schaeffer began their L'Abri ministry at Huemoz, Switzerland, in March 1955. Robert Ferrar, bishop of St. David's, was burnt at Carmarthen on March 30 1555. MayThomas Kelly, Irish hymnwriter, died on May 4 1855. Kelly, whose hymns were formerly widely sung, wrote: 'We sing the praise of him who died' and 'The head that once was crowned with thorns'. JuneJames Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission (now the Overseas Missionary Fellowship), died on June 3 1905 at Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, the last province of China to be opened to the gospel. He was taken to be buried at Chinkiang, beside his wife Maria and four of their young children. JulyJohn Bradford, the learned archdeacon of Winchester, was burnt at Smithfield on July 1 1555, declaring to the young apprentice who was burnt with him: 'We shall have a happy supper with the Lord this night'. John Cennick, hymnwriter and one of the greatest evangelists of the 18th-century Awakening, died on July 4 1755, at the age of 37. Harold J. Ockenga, U.S. pastor for 33 years of Park Street Church, Boston, was born in Chicago July 6 1905. During his life, he was involved in such initiatives as the founding of Fuller Theological Seminary, the magazine Christianity Today and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Martin Luther, caught in a violent thunderstorm on July 2 1505, prayed: 'St. Anne, help me! I will become a monk'. On July 17 he entered the Augustinian monastery at Erfurt as a novice. AugustHenry Martyn sailed for India as a missionary in August 1805. The best mathematician of his year at Cambridge, Martyn became curate to Charles Simeon, and was the first Protestant to develop a distinctive evangelistic approach to Muslims. Ann Griffiths, Welsh hymnwriter, died in August 1805, and was buried on August 12 at Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa, Montgomeryshire. Thomas Charles of Bala had her hymns published the following year, and they have featured in most Welsh hymnbooks ever since. SeptemberThe trial for heresy of Thomas Cranmer, the former archbishop of Canterbury, Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer, previously bishops of London and Worcester, took place in September 1555. Thomas Barnardo, the Irish doctor who was so moved by the plight of London's street children that he founded 'Dr. Barnardo's Homes', with the motto, 'No destitute child ever refused admission', died on September 14 1905. 59,384 children had been admitted to his homes by the time of his death. George MacDonald, Scottish writer and Congregationalist pastor, died at Ashtead, Surrey, on September 18 1905. His writings had a profound effect on C.S. Lewis, who said: 'I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him.' George Muller, founder of the famous orphan homes at Bristol, was born September 27 1805 at Kroppenstad, Prussia. He led a dissolute life until he was converted at the age of 20. OctoberWilliam Cunningham, Scottish theologian, and one of the intellectual leaders of the 'Disruption', was born on October 2 1805. In 1847, he became principal of New College, which trained ministers for the new Free Church of Scotland. Theodore Beza, the successor of John Calvin at Geneva, died on October 13 1605. He published a translation of the New Testament into French. Thomas Charles was born on October 14 1755. From his base at Bala, he organised 'circulating schools' and was the leader of the Calvinistic Methodists in Wales. His efforts for more copies of the Welsh Bible to be made available led to the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burnt in the town ditch outside Oxford on October 16 1555, Latimer encouraging Ridley with the words, 'Be of good cheer, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day, by God's grace, light such a torch in England as shall never be put out.' NovemberThe 'Gunpowder Plot' by some Roman Catholics to blow up Parliament when King James I opened its session, was discovered on November 5 1605, and led to a strong and prolonged anti-Catholic reaction. Sir George Williams, who as a young office worker founded the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), died on November 14 1905, and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral. DecemberJohn Philpot was burnt at Smithfield on December 18 1555. Jews were readmitted into England by Oliver Cromwell on December 14 1655. Josiah Conder hymnwriter, who wrote 'The Lord is King! Lift up your voice', died at St. John's Wood in London on December 27 1855. Joy Horn,
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