church ripe for reform / support exam qs

Question 1

thesis: to what extent was the church in England in need of reform in the 1520s ?

Answer 1

-issues within clergy no greater than any time in history – printing press + renaissance meant ppl questioned beliefs but only small pockets of intellectuals
-no large revolutionary movement BUT evidence does suggest that clergy in need of reform to maintain support
Ultimately, anti-clericalism and small pockets of disarray in intellectual spaces paints surface level picture of reform, but majority of evidence suggests that church was no more corrupt than any other time in history
-church indeed required reform but only a small restructuring not a change to the whole landscape

Question 2

-P1 - support from parishioners

Answer 2

-support for guilds w/ 57% ppl in devon
–> people not only supported church but willing to pay towards it - suggesting a level of trust
-production of devotional literature shows that the church was still flourishing.
CA- just because people support church does not mean does not need reform BUT church required slight reform not the restructuring given by henry VIII

Question 3

-P2 - disocnnect betwene ppl church and crown

Answer 3

-hunne case - rebelled against tithes
-John Colet’s sermon would have been accessed by general public
-HOWEVER - only small pockets was not a trend but exceptions to the overall rule
-indeed disocnnect henry and church in hunne case but could have been overcome by a council NOT a revolutionary movement
anti-clerical legislation of the 1529 parliament, but this might be seen as an attack on Wolsey, rather than a general attack on the Church.

Question 4

-P3 - CORRUPT clergy

Answer 4

-pluralism + absenteeism
-wolsey + Thomas Magnus - archdeacon Yorkshire canon Windsor + other roles
- CA would suggest church required reform
BUT -

Question 5

How much popular support was there for the Church of England on eve of reformation?

Answer 5

(basically kind of asking need for reformation just re word)
-majority support but minorities in intellectual and influential spheres critiqued church (those were ones in charge so reform occurred)

Question 6

P1-support from ordinary ppl

Answer 6

• support for guilds w/ 57% ppl in devon

- -> people not only supported church but willing to pay towards it - suggesting a level of trust