St Thomas More, also known as Sir Thomas More, was a lawyer and politician from the sixteenth century.
He opposed the Protestant Reformation, especially the theology of Martin Luther and William Tyndale. He also opposed Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church, and his marriage to mistress Anne Boleyn, resulting in his beheading on the grounds of treason.
More has since been venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Wolf Hall depicts the rise of Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's chief minister and one of the key drivers of the Reformation.
Rt Revd Mark Davies, the Bishop of Shrewsbury, told Premier: "It is an extraordinary and perverse achievement of Hilary Mantel and BBC Drama to make of Thomas Cromwell a flawed hero and of St Thomas More, one of the greatest Englishmen, a scheming villain.
"It is not necessary to share Thomas More's faith to recognise his heroism - a man of his own time who remains an example of integrity for all times.
"It would be sad if Thomas Cromwell, who is surely one of the most unscrupulous figures in England's history, was to be held-up as a role model for future generations."
Rt Revd, the Bishop of Plymouth, told Premier: "Hilary Mantel does have this view that being a Catholic is destructive to your humanity.
"It is not historically accurate and it is not accurate in what the Catholic faith has to contribute to society...
"There is an anti-Catholic thread there, no doubt about it."
The BBC has declined to comment.