Thomas Alcock (priest)

Thomas Alcock (fl. 1530s) was an English priest and academic known for his association with reformist religious ideas at Cambridge University in the early years of the English Reformation. Details of his early life and career are scarce, but he is chiefly remembered for his involvement in the importation and distribution of prohibited religious texts within the university community.

Alcock was associated with a group of scholars at Cambridge who were sympathetic to the burgeoning Protestant movement on the continent. This group, often referred to as "Little Germany," actively acquired and disseminated books by figures like Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and others whose works challenged established Catholic dogma.

His activities came to the attention of the authorities, and Alcock was among those investigated for heresy in the 1530s. While specific details of the charges against him are not readily available, it is known that he faced accusations related to his involvement with prohibited books and his embrace of unorthodox religious views. The outcome of the investigation is not entirely clear, but Alcock appears to have avoided severe punishment, likely recanting some of his views.

Records indicate Alcock continued to serve as a priest following this period, although the extent of his involvement with reformist circles after his brush with the authorities is unclear. His historical significance lies primarily in his role as one of the individuals who helped to introduce and circulate Protestant ideas within the English academic landscape during a crucial period of religious change.