Dr. Rowland Taylor (Reverand) was influential in the religious reformation of England during the reign of Queen Mary I. At the time of his death, he was rector of a small church in Hadleigh, England. The English Parliament banned the William Tyndale English Bible in 1543. During this time, many people who opposed the Catholic church teachings were put to death. Taylor opposed several Catholic teachings, including the celibacy of a priest and the way the church practiced Holy Communion. On March 26, 1554, he was arrested for heresy because he was spreading the word of God in public. He was burned at the stake on February 9, 1555. Before being burned at the stake, he was killed by having his skull bashed.