Religion - Northumberland

Question 1

What were Northumberland’s two main aims?

Answer 1

1. continue Protestant reforms initiated by Somerset

2. plunder more of its wealth

Question 2

How did the changing political situation lead to a more radical approach?

Answer 2

1. End of the French war helped as the English government no longer needed to say end to Charles V’s wishes
2. Cranmer beginning to move in a more radical direction (as shown by 1552 Book of Common Prayer)
3. Radical senior clergy (Nicholas Ridley and John Hooper) were becoming more influential
4. Increasing influence of Edward VI

Question 3

List four changes imposed by the 1552 Book of Common Prayer

Answer 3

1. Rewriting of baptism, confirmation and burial services (greater simplicity)
2. Radical reform of communion service, replacing wafer by ordinary bread (showed influence of Zwinglianism)
3. Ban on use of ‘popish’ vestments
4. Restriction on use of church music

Question 4

Protestant reformers were keen to return to what they saw as biblical purity and often drew parallels between their reforms and similar events in biblical times. Example?

Answer 4

In the Old Testament Josiah succeeded to the throne and drove idolatry out of the kingdom. Edward was therefore the ‘new Josiah’ who would drive out Catholicism.

Question 5

Example of plundering of bishopric property?

Answer 5

dioceses of Worcester and Gloucester combined, with 2/3 of the Worcester estate going to the Crown

Question 6

What do the Evidence from wills suggest?

Answer 6

People felt there was little point in leaving money to their parish church if it would just be confiscated by the Crown

Question 7

Counter-argument against evidence from wills?

Answer 7

Represents nothing less than a crisis in religion at a parish level
- services became plainer so attracted less affection from their people

Question 8

Evidence from wills in the north statistic?

Answer 8

70% of northern wills 1540-46 left money to their parish church, but only 32% did so during Edward VI’s reign

Question 9

Why did John Hooper think the pace of reform was hampered by uncooperative public opinion?

Answer 9

Crisis at parish level made worse by the attack on church plate

• Many parishes tried to avoid this by selling their treasures
• proved justified as in January 1553 the Crown started to confiscate church plate

Question 10

Forty-Two Articles of Religion, June 1553

Answer 10

Confirmed the firmly Protestant nature of official doctrine, however the King’s death within a few weeks of their issue meant they were never implemented