The Bishop of Lincoln from 1235 to 1253, Robert Grosseteste, was ahead of his time according to the campaign to have him credited.
Dr Jack Cunningham is leading the campaign and told the BBC the bishop came up with a similar theory to the big bang eight hundred years before anyone else.
He said he was also the first scientist to identify the cause of rainbows.
"It is outstanding as he did it without computers or telescopes." He said.
The Big Bang theory claims to describe how the Universe began through science.
The campaign now wants more recognition for the bishop who is largely unknown.
He said: "It is inconceivable that this would happen if Grosseteste had been born in Paris, Madrid or Milan."