Today commemorates the burning at the stake of Thomas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury under Henry VIII and Edward VI, at the hands of the court of Mary I. Cranmer was influential in guiding the reformation of the churches in England as they broke (over several issues, not just divorce) with Rome and became the Church of England. He was opposed to the practice of clerical celibacy and penned the first two revisions of the Book of Common Prayer, the key liturgies of the CoE.
Cranmer was convicted of treason for his support of the Lady Jane Grey, and spent two years in prison until Mary completed negotiations with the Roman Catholic Church and was able to appoint a new archbishop in Canterbury. During this time, Cranmer had signed several recantations that, according to laws Mary had enacted, should have spared his life. Instead, she charged him with heresy in February of 1556 and burned him at the stake on March 21 of the same year.
No matter how you look at him, Cranmer was a man of rare talent, and he faithfully executed what he saw as his duties to the Church (even when they brought him in conflict with his patrons). He is still remembered and honored for the strong imprint he placed on the CoE and, by extension, the churches of the Anglican Communion.
Thanks to TNH for the reminder.