Dissolution of the monasteries

Question 1

Why did Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII dissolve the monasteries from 1534?

Answer 1

• King Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell planned to dissolve the monasteries from 1534. This meant shutting down the monasteries for good.
• In doing so, it would give the Crown access to to valuable land as well as the gold and silver held within the monasteries.
• Henry coveted more wealth and power, which he saw was necessary if he hoped to wage war against France.
• He also felt that closing down the monasteries would put an end to large sections of opposition to his break from the Roman Catholic Church.

Question 2

What roles did Cromwell take up to dissolve monasteries?

Answer 2

• In order to proceed, Cromwell began to collect evidence that the monasteries were corrupt or inefficient.
• Cromwell was appointed as Vicegerent in Spiritual Matters in 1535 to justify this move. This was a new role held by the Chief minister in England and exercising the highest authority regarding religious matters.

Question 3

What was the Valor ecclesiasticus and the Visitation?

Answer 3

• Cromwell ordered 2 surveys of the religious houses, the first was called the Valor ecclesiasticus this was designed to identified and record the wealth of the churh. The second was called the Visitation and its goal was to identify whether of not the members of the monasteries were living religious lives.
• Both surveys were carried out by royal commisioners at the same time. The surveys included over 80 standardised questions that were asked at every religious house.
• Commisioners travelled the country to perform this task and found evidence of immoral behaviour, including gambling and drinking.

Question 4

What was the 1st stages needed for the dissolution of the monasteries?

Answer 4

• The first stage was put into practice following an act of parliament in 1536. The act dissolved all monasteries with an income of less than £200. The land, properties and assets of these monasteries were transferred directly to the Crown. Those living in smaller monasteries were allowed to transfer to the larger ones, which remained open.

Question 5

What was the 2nd stages needed for the dissolution of the monasteries?

Answer 5

• The second act was passed in 1539. This abolished dthe remaining monasteries, though some had volunteered to close before the act was passed. The final monastery, Waltham Abbey, closed in 1540.
• Pensions continued to be paid to head members of the clergy, though by the mid 1550s, these pensions were in arrears.

Question 6

Who was the main beneficiary of the dissolution of the monasteries and why?

Answer 6

• The Crown was the main beneficiary of the dissolution, monastic land was worth over 3 times the land already held by the Crown. The Crown also acquired the right to collect tithes.
• Tithes were financial support from parish community to its priest. This meant that money from the community was now given directly to the Crown.

Question 7

How much did the Crown annual income increased after the dissolution of monasteries?

Answer 7

• As a result of the dissolution, the Crown’s annual income more than doubled. The members of the clergy who did not resist were rewarded.

Question 8

What did monks and nuns and building lose from the dissolution of the monasteries?

Answer 8

• Though the Crown benefitted from the dissolution, many individuals suffered, monks and nuns lost their way of living. Ornate buildings and their treasures were lost and many libraries were destroyed or abandoned, ruining valuable manuscripts and scholarly texts.

Question 9

How did the dissolution of monasteries affect the homeless, sick and elderly people?

Answer 9

• Monasteries were also the source of charitable care, without them, the homeless, sick and elderly people weere left without support.

Question 10

What happened to the influence of the church following the dissolution of the monasteries?

Answer 10

• The influence of the church was also greatly diminished following the reformation.
• All 25 abbots sitting in the House of the Lords lost their places, leaving only the bishops as a parliamentary influence. Non religious lords were now in the majority.
• Futhermore, the gentry had benefitted so much from the dissolution of the monasteries that they became an effective pressure group. They had no interest in the Roman Catholic church returning to its former glory when they had profited so much from its diminishing influence.