religion under edward

Question 1

What were problems faced by Somerset?

Answer 1

-Many Catholic practices still in place after Henry, as the Church still largely Catholic
-Having to win over the hearts and minds of the British people
-Many argued that due to terms in Henry’s will, no religious changes should be made until Edward becomes 18

Question 2

What was Somersets approach to religion?

Answer 2

Slow and cautious

Question 3

Why was Somerset’s approach to religion slow/ cautious?

Answer 3

-Only a moderate Protestant
-Bishops in England divided- a large number (such as Gardiner) opposed to any change, and the rest undecided
-Only a few areas, such as East Anglia and London, enthusiastic for reform

Question 4

What changes were made by Somerset in early 1547?

Answer 4

-Book of Homilies should be placed in every Church.
-Clergy ordered to conduct services in English, to preach every Sunday, and make sure that there was an English Bible in their Church.
- Royal Injunction ordered the ordered the removal of superstitious images from Churches

Question 5

What years was Somerset in power?

Answer 5

1547-1549

Question 6

Changes made in late 1547?

Answer 6

-Chantries Act passed.
-Treason Act meant that radicals were now free to discuss and demand more radical reforms

Question 7

What are chantries?

Answer 7

Masses said for the souls of the dead to help them pass into Heaven

Question 8

Benefit of the Chantries act?

Answer 8

Helped gov raise money for war against Scotland.

Question 9

Changes in 1548?

Answer 9

-further order to remove images
- all public preaching banned

Question 10

Benefit of the war against Scotland?

Answer 10

Put England in a stronger position to bring in more change

Question 11

When was the Act of Uniformity?

Answer 11

January 1549

Question 12

Protestant changes in the Act of Uniformity?

Answer 12

-Ceremonies now consisted of just communion, baptism, confirmation, marriage and burial
-Clergy allowed to marry
-Chantries
-Laity could receive both bread and wine

Question 13

Catholic concessions in the Act of Uniformity?

Answer 13

-Fast days and number of holy days remained
-Purgatory neither condemned or upheld
-Worship of saints not banned, only discouraged
-Book of Common Prayer still allowed Catholic interpretation with transubstantiation

Question 14

Problems caused by the Act of Uniformity?

Answer 14

-Clergy could be fined or imprisoned if they refused, however laity were not punished for not attending Church.
-Problems with religious knowledge and understanding- Bishops carried out inspections, one discovered that in Gloucester 10/311 could not recite the Lord’s Prayer and 171/311 did not know the 10 commandments.
- Caused unrest in Devon, Cornwall, Yorkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire leading to to the downfall of Somerset

Question 15

Overall change by Somersets downfall?

Answer 15

Most of the old Catholic traditions had been attacked but moves to put in a radical Protestant faith had been slow with much opposition.
Factional struggle began

Question 16

Changes in 1549 under Northumberland?

Answer 16

-Another proclamation to destroy any remaining images
-Council contained a majority of religious conservatives who did not trust Northumberland so he brought in his own allies and removed opponents to get a Protestant majority.

Question 17

In 1549, what was used as an excuse to remove further enemies?

Answer 17

rumors of Catholic plot to remove Northumberland

Question 18

Changes made in 1550?

Answer 18

• leading Catholic members of the Council had been dismissed and Northumberland was made Lord President of the Council.
• The new Ordinal changed the procedure for the ordination of priests. This did not satisfy Hooper who was annoyed by the swearing of an oath to saints and the need to wear a surplice. This resulted in a battle with Ridley and Cranmer that led to Hooper declining the position of the Bishop of Gloucester and being imprisoned for failing to stop preaching. Hooper was frustrated that the Church still did not have a fully agreed Protestant doctrine, especially over issues with transubstantiation.

Question 19

What was the impact of Northumberland becoming Lord President of the Council

Answer 19

This meant that Northumberland had to ally with the more religiously radical members of the Council- moves would be made to implement a more Protestant Church.

Question 20

What was the consequence of the new procedure for ordination of Priests?

Answer 20

• Hooper annoyed by the swearing of an oath to saints and the need to wear a surplice. -This resulted in a battle with Ridley and Cranmer that led to Hooper declining the position of the Bishop of Gloucester
• imprisoned for failing to stop preaching.
  -Hooper was frustrated that the Church still did not have a fully agreed Protestant doctrine, especially over issues with transubstantiation.

Question 21

Changes in 1551?

Answer 21

-Northumberland strengthened his grip on power, allowing further change to take place.
-Conservative bishops, like Gardiner, were deprived

Question 22

What was the consequence of conservative bishops such as Gardiner being deprived?

Answer 22

Gave reformists a majority amongst the bishops.

Question 23

Changes made in 1552?

Answer 23

-New treason act, making it an offence to question Religious Supremacy or any of the beliefs of the Church
-Second Act of Uniformity

Question 24

What was high on Parliament’s agenda when it met in 1552?

Answer 24

Protestant reform

Question 25

When was the Second Act of uniformity?

Answer 25

1552

Question 26

What did the Second Act of Uniformity do?

Answer 26

-Overall harsher punishment and higher control
-Second Book of Common Prayer which categorically ended belief in transubstantiation.
-An offence for any member of the clergy or laity not to attend a church service. Offenders could be fined or imprisoned

Question 27

How were religious changes under Edward a success?

Answer 27

-England was officially a Protestant nation
-Reforms had been carried out and churches had been changed, altars replaced with communion tables and new services were being used in every parish
-Prayer book rebellion was the exception to the picture across the rest of the country where there was acceptance of changes
-The people of England were pragmatic and accepted the changes as they saw no way around them
-Kett’s rebels supported the move to the Protestant Church.

Question 28

How were religious changes under Edward a failure?

Answer 28

-Edward was only on the throne for 6 years- there was not popular support for Protestantism when he started, so unable to change nations beliefs fully in that time.
-The 42 Articles never became law due to Edwards death
-Rapid restoration of Catholicism under Mary
-Major moves towards Protestantism only came at the end of his reign
-Edward and his Government struggled to remove images from Churches
-Prayer Book Rebellion
-Change had to be imposed on the people who were at best indifferent to religious change
-Only areas where there was evidence of the new religion being supported is in London and East Anglia