Richard Bristow facts for kids

Richard Bristow (born in 1538 in Worcester – died in 1581 in Harrow on the Hill in London) was an important English Catholic scholar. He was known for his strong beliefs and for helping to translate the Bible into English for Catholic readers.

Early Life and Education

Richard Bristow was born in 1538 in Worcester, England. When he was about 17 years old, he began studying at the University of Oxford. He might have attended Exeter College.

In 1559, he earned his first degree, a bachelor's. He then continued his studies at Christ Church, Oxford. By 1562, he had earned his MA degree.

In 1566, Richard Bristow and another scholar, Edmund Campion, were chosen for a special debate. They presented their ideas in front of Queen Elizabeth I of England. After this, a man named Sir William Petre suggested Bristow for a special teaching position. He became a Fellow at Exeter College in 1567.

A Time of Change

During this time, England was going through big changes in religion. This period was called the Reformation. Queen Elizabeth I, who had been ruling for almost ten years, was Protestant. England had traditionally been a Catholic country.

Many people were changing their religious ideas. Richard Bristow remained loyal to his Catholic faith. However, he also saw that some changes were needed within the religion.

Working for His Faith

Two years after becoming a Fellow, Bristow left Oxford. He traveled to Leuven in Belgium. There, he met William Allen. Allen soon asked Bristow to be the first Prefect of Studies. This was at a new school called the English College, Douai.

Bristow was very important to Allen. He was like Allen's "right hand" and often took charge when Allen was away. The college later moved to Reims in 1578.

A Scholar's Legacy

Richard Bristow was known as a very dedicated student. He was also a powerful writer who debated religious topics. He worked with Allen, William Reynolds, and Thomas Worthington. Together, they helped revise the Douay-Rheims Bible. This was a special version of the Bible for Catholic readers.

Later Years and Death

Bristow's health began to get worse in 1581. He had to stop his important work. In May of that year, he went to Spa, Belgium, hoping to feel better. But his health did not improve.

He was advised to return to England. He arrived in London in September with a friend, Jerome Bellamy. He stayed there until he passed away. Richard Bristow died at the age of 43 on October 18, 1581.

The New Testament part of the Douay-Rheims Bible was published the year after he died. The complete Douay-Rheims Bible, including the Old Testament, was published in 1610.

Writings

Richard Bristow wrote several books and papers about his Catholic faith. These writings aimed to explain and defend Catholic beliefs during a time of religious change. One of his well-known works was A Briefe Treatise of diuerse and sure wayes to finde out the truthe. He also contributed to the Annotations on the Rheims translation of the New Testament.