John Wycliffe, the real Protestant Reformer.
Jeff Unsworth.

When anyone thinks of the Protestant Reformation, one's mind goes to Martin Luther, the priest that nailed his ninety five thesis on the door of Wittenberg church.
He became known as the father of the Reformation.
Luther shared his views publicly in 1517, and he was followed by Andreas Karlstadt and Philip Melanchthon at Wittenberg, who promptly joined the new movement. In 1519, Huldrych Zwingli became the first reformer to express a form of the Reformed tradition.. 
Later, John Calvin carried on the teaching.
However, these men were not the first Protestant Reformers, there were others that were always opposed to Roman Catholicism and maintained the early church doctrines based on the teachings of the Apostles of Christ.

In the 14th century a Catholic priest, John Wycliffe was in opposition to Roman Catholic teachings of indulgences, transubstantiation and
questioned the veneration of saints, the sacraments, requiem masses, monasticism, and the legitimacy or role of the Papacy. 
Wycliffe has been characterised as the "evening star" of scholasticism and as the morning star or stella matutina of the English Reformation.
Wycliffe questioned the Pope's authority, the sale of indulgences, and the doctrine of transubstantiation, advocating for the Bible as the ultimate source of authority.
He believed the Bible should be accessible to everyone in their own language, leading to the first English translation of the Bible.
Wycliffe criticized the wealth and corruption within the church, calling for a return to the principles of the early church. 
Wycliffe was exiled for his work and died of a stroke.

His followers, known as the Lollards, spread his ideas, further challenging the established church.
Wycliffe's teachings, particularly his emphasis on Scripture and his critique of papal authority, influenced later reformers like Jan Hus, Peter Waldo and the Moravian Brethren, along with others.

According to Edmund Hamer Broadbent, 1861- 1945, a Christian author, born in Crumpsall, Lancashire, England, who operated under the auspices of the Plymouth Brethren movement.
He wrote, quote: there were a number of Christian movements that sought a return to what they perceived as the purity of the Apostolic church and whose teachings foreshadowed Protestant ideas.
Claudius of Turin
Gottschalk of Orbais
Berengar of Tours
Peter Waldo (Waldensians)
Lorenzo Valla
Wessel Gansfort
Girolamo Savonarola
Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples
Jan Hus (Hussites)  
End of quote.

God has over the years, preserved His Word, through such men as these, leading to what is known as “ Sola Scriptura”, which is linked to the “5 Solas”.
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): The Bible is the ultimate authority for matters of faith and practice.                            
Sola Fide (Faith Alone): Justification (being made right with God) comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not through works or merit.                        
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone): Salvation is a free gift from God, not earned through human effort or good works.                
Solus Christus (Christ Alone): Jesus Christ is the sole mediator between God and humanity, and salvation is found only through Him.                                        
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone): All glory and praise belong to God.
Things have changed over the years, since the Apostles. But the canon of scripture is closed. There is no more revelation. In these last days, God has spoken through His Son, Hebrews 1:1.   All things must be tested against the Bible.                                                  
Men's ideas and understanding concerning scripture may change, traditions may change but God's Word never changes. Denominations may rise and fall but Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.