Religious Change Under Somerset & Northumberland Flashcards
1
Q
What factors lead to England to reform under Ed?
A
- 1547 Catholic faction had no effective leadership - Privy Council and Somerset all religious reformers. Arch Bish of Cant Thomas Cranmer - keen to push the reformation.
- Without Henry VIII there was no block on religion any more.
- Edward VI a known Protestant - mum Catherine Parr and teacher Somerset both Protestants = brought up as one.
- People wanted to stay in favour of the new king - needed to seem like a reformer.
- Protestant reformers fled back to England with new ideas and England became a base for the religion. Universities published books
- Nobles keen to profit from the church
2
Q
What factors reduced the speed of religion initially?
A
- Worried about Charles V - didn’t want to be further ganged up against vs France + Scots - England had no chance vs Catholic crusade, meaning they toned it down
- Mary heir to the throne and if Ed died she would be a devout catholic
- Henry VIII’s will specified that no religious change should take place
- Ed only a minor and Somerset only protector - wouldn’t really be official
- Fear of religious rebellion + people won’t be educated in new religion
3
Q
What changes took place 1547-49 (under Somerset)?
A
Changes did take place - but in stages and cautiously -
- Abolished Chantries and condemn the practice of prayers for the dead = more cash for the gov
- Six Articles of Henry VIII 1539 of Catholic Orthadox, which allowed to put Protestants to death = ABOLISHED
- Ban Treason Act to allow religious debate
- Iconoclasm Protestant groups smashed statues of saints etc
- Catholic Bishops deprived and imprisoned - replaced by Protestants
- Whit washed churches - replaced with writing, sermons and pulpits
- Church holidays were reduced in number - superstitious Palm Sunday and Ash Wednesday gone. No ringing of bells on al hallows
- Priests allowed to marry - reduced special statues of priests - made them seem like normal humans. 1 in 5 chose to marry.
4
Q
What did the 1549 New Prayer Book and Act of Uniformity include and who produced it?
A
- Thomas Cranmer wrote the new prayer book - Archbishop of Canterbury
- New book was a common prayer book = everyone can use it.
- Because it is in English - removal of Latin - massive change but more people can understand it
- Act of parliament made it illegal not to follow - Uniformity - everyone the same
- Now a communion service - not just the priest talking to god - congregation now can
- More of a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice
- Congregation now get the wine and bread - same level as priest
5
Q
Continuity of Catholic practices under Somerset?
A
- Robes are similar
- Still an Altar
- Virgin Mary still worshipped and still have confessions
- Transubstantiation still in belief = presence of Christ
6
Q
Why would / could Northumberland change religion?
A
- Ed is a prot - had an obligation to turn Eng prot to keep in favour for when he actually turns king
- Peace with France occurred - reduced fears of invasion
- Universities full of radical prots - influence
- Old cath bishops put in tower of London (Gardiner) and prots put in place (Hooper)
7
Q
What were the main religious changes under Northumberland?
A
- Priests allowed to marry - 1 in 3 were in London
- Destruction of images in church etc
- Second common prayer book - removed transubstantiation - produced by Cranmer - nothing cath at all - biggest swing prot
- Second act of uniformity - makes above book legal
- 42 articles submitted
(see sheets for more detail)
8
Q
How successful was the Edwardian reformation?
A
- Duffy- ‘ most accepted changes’ ‘sold off catholic past’
BUT - Church donations halved in wills by end of reign
- Only 20% of London population declared themselves a prot in 1549
- Large declines in church attendance
- Western rebellion
Theoretically a prot country - but fundamentally people weren’t
