Henry VIII breaks with Rome Flashcards
Explain why Henry VIII reformed the Church in the 1530s [10]
(Framing the answer) Henry broke with Rome for personal reasons, which became political. He needed his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled but this was rejected by the pope, which meant he had no other alternative to break with Rome in order to resolve his his ‘Great Matter’.
All kings in the medieval and early modern period were concerned about ensuring the succession. This meant having a healthy and legitimate son. However, although Henry was married to Catherine of Aragon for 20 years she had failed to provide him with a son. Henry was deeply concerned by this this issue became known as the King’s ‘Great Matter’.
In order to get his marriage annulled, Henry needed special dispensation from the pope. In 1526 Henry ordered Thomas Wolsey to persuade Pope Clement VII to declare his marriage void. The Pope delayed and thus The King’s Great Matter turned into an old fashioned power struggle. Who should have the power the King or the Pope?
Henry dismissed Wolsey, appointed Thomas More and summoned parliament to declare praemunire, that the clergy could not support a foreign power over the King in a civil matter. At the same time Thomas Cranmer was compiling a defence called the ‘collection’ that stated the King had control over spiritual matters.
Eventually Henry was forced to make his break because he married Anne Boleyn in 1533 and the Pope threatened to excommunicate him. Henry could not afford for this to happen as it would make any son illegitimate and so Henry had the Act of Supremacy passed (1534) which made him the Supreme Head of the Church in England.
Explain what changes Henry VIII made to the Church [10]
Whilst there were religious changes, changes were motivated more by power politics and for financial reasons rather than doctrine.
However, the key change, of course, was that Henry was now Head of the Church in England, not the Pope. All clergy had to offer an oath of allegiance to Henry which meant the Pope had no more authority. The word ‘pope’ was even removed from service books.
The Treason Act was also passed to make it illegal to speak badly against the King and all monastic orders had to swear an oath of allegiance. It also made it easier to prosecute HERETICS. The King could also create a policy and order the Bishops to carry it out.
A key change was to reform Church taxes. This task was handed to Thomas Cromwell who set up the VALOR ECCLESIASTICUS, a survey of the wealth of the Church. 6 commissioners were appointed to carry our VISITATIONS and soon after this, the Dissolution of the Monasteries began. By 1539 all the small monasteries had been disappeared.
This Dissolution resulted in the destruction of many buildings and the ‘confiscation’ of hundreds of valuable items. Once great Abbeys like Glastonbury were reduced to ruins.
Explain the role of Thomas Cromwell in reforming the Church in the 1530s [10]
(Framing the answer) Thomas Cromwell played an important role in the reforms that affected the church in the 1530s.
Even before the Act of Supremacy Cromwell pushed the issue of PRAEMUNIRE through parliament. (1530) It meant that people could not support a foreign power (i.e The Pope) over the King. Cromwell also influenced the ‘pardon’ of the clergy by ensuring they had to recognize the King as the supreme head of the English Church. At this time he also supported a bill to cut off payments to the Pope (Annates) & attacked the Church courts saying they interfered with royal courts.
From 1534 he pushed through the Treasons Act (1534) which made it an act of treason to question Henry’s supremacy over the Church and he ordered an oath of allegiance.
His major role in reform however was in organising the VALOUR ECCLESIATICUS, a reform of Church taxes which would no longer be paid to Rome. To do this he established the VISITATIONS, 6 commissioners to survey all the monasteries in England. This resulted in the most significant reforms, the dissolution of the monasteries.
