Henry VIII and Religion Flashcards
Theological to-ing and fro-ing
Key theological issues were unresolved in the 1530s. In 1536, the Act of Ten Articles rejected four of the Catholics’ seven sacraments. But in 1537, the Bishops’ Book was published. It gave advice and attacked abuses and Catholic superstitions. But it also restored the missing four sacraments.
An English Bible was published. Its frontispiece showed God giving Henry VIII His word and Henry VIII handing it to the English people.
Theological resolution
In 1539, the Act of the Six Articles confirmed key Roman Catholic beliefs including confession to priests and, most importantly, transubstantiation (the substance of the wine and bread in communion becomes Christ’s body and blood). The Act banned Protestant beliefs like married clergy and giving the wine as well as bread at holy communion. In 1539, the Act for Dissolution of the Greater Monasteries made sure of the continuation of a vital source of revenue as Henry was fortifying southern England.
Dissolution of the Monasteries
Although there were political and economic reasons for the dissolution of the monasteries, there were religious ones too. As Vicar-General, Cromwell was against ‘superstitious’ Catholic practices, such as praying for souls of dead in Purgatory, saints’ relics and pilgrimages. In 1535, Cromwell sent out Visitations telling them to find evidence that monks and nuns were not living up to their vows.
Henrician Reformation
The Henrician Reformation is often called ‘Catholicism without the Pope’.
Protestant reformers
Hardline Protestants such as Hugh Latimer and Thomas Cranmer were spreading Protestant beliefs through their preaching and prominence in government. Cromwell was pushing for doctrinal reform, as demonstrated in the Ten Articles of Faith. This was a compromise between Lutheran and traditional Catholic ideas.
Internal divisions
Historian Peter Marshall describes the ‘kaleidoscopic diversity’ of Protestants in Tudor England. This reminds us that there were considerable divisions amongst Protestant reformers. They couldn’t agree at all about what the future of the Church looked like.
Impact of the vernacular scripture
Perhaps the most noticeable changes in the Church, to an ordinary layman, was the use of vernacular scripture (an English Bible). A contemporary, called Becon, describes the impact of this change: ‘the restoration of Scripture was the foremost reason to praise God and the king’.
The future of the Church of England?
Following Henry VIII’s death in 1547, Edward VI came to the throne. But Edward VI was only nine years old and dependent on a regency government. Edward VI’s advisors and ministers would become very influential in shaping the Church of England.
The future of the English nation and the religious settlement was very uncertain.
Henry’s conservatism
Henry VIII was undoubtedly conservative in his religious views. In reaction to the changes between 1535 and 1538, he had a conservative backlash. This is seen in the tone of the Six Articles of 1539.
Opposition to change
There was still resistance to religious change at Court. Key figures refused to take the oath accepting Henry’s divorce. Examples included the Chancellor, Thomas More and the Bishop of Rochester, John Fisher. Both were executed.
The experience of the laity
Although reformers were obsessed with the theological details, most of the laity were not concerned with this. By and large, the experience of the laity did not change hugely during the Henrician Reformation.
