If one defines the English Reformation as a profound change in the religious beliefs of England that was accompanied by changes in the secular realm, then one must go back to the 14th century for the seeds of the reformation. The underlying current of what transpired with the Lollards, a growing sense of nationalism, and a system that was bound to pit church against state at some point made the reformation inevitable.
The Seeds of the English Reformation Began with John Wycliffe
To analyze the roots of the reformation, one must go back to John Wycliffe and his followers. Some historians view the late medieval church as a corrupt institution which had an “inability to respond to society’s changing spiritual aspirations.” Into this chasm entered the powerful teaching of Wycliffe which quickly gained popularity.
Wycliffe expounded three things that completely went against the teachings of the established church. He put emphasis on individual interpretations of the Bible, said that man was more important than the ecclesiastical office, and he attacked the rich lifestyle of many of the clergy. The attraction of these beliefs and the number of converts to them suggests there were many that believed changes needed to be made.
What was lacking at this time was a political leader with the desire and willingness to make changes to the established church. Many in the nobility “resented ecclesiastical control of high royal offices” and were attracted to the Lollard belief that “a good churchman ‘dwelleth at home and keepeth well his fold.’”
The Actions of Henry VIII have Far-reaching Ramifications
When the pope refused to annul Henry’s first marriage, a series of acts were passed that broke the ties between the English church and Rome. The largest blow was the Act of Supremacy which stated that Henry VIII was now “Supreme head of the Church of England” and not the pope. Henry had now become “the ideological vicar of his kingdom whose duty was to mold public opinion and root out political and religious error.”
The monasteries were done away with because of their recognition of a higher power than the state. With the abbots gone, the House of Lords became a secular body because the bishops were now in the minority. At this point the church is still very Catholic in form, but the ground is being laid for more changes to occur. England was in the process of being transformed into a sovereign national state ruled at the top by a king.
The People were Searching for Spiritual Satisfaction
Many believed the church had lost touch with the people and had become greedy. People were searching for spiritual fulfillment in an uncertain world. The words of Martin Luther were appealing because his message gave hope. Not long after Henry’s death, with his son Edward as King, the treason and heresy laws for opposition to Catholic orthodoxy were repealed. This had a profound impact on the religious climate, “the clamour for religious reform rose to deafening proportions.”
The Prayer Book of 1549 was intentionally ambiguous so that it could be interpreted in a Catholic or Protestant way. The Ordinal of 1550 traded the priest who claimed divine ordination for a parson and in 1552 church services were no longer to have a Catholic look.
The Cause of Religion Sends England through Upheaval
When Edward died and Mary became Queen, “she passionately sought to return her land to the bosom of a church that bore little resemblance to the ecclesia of her youth.” The Act of Supremacy was repealed which paved the way for reunion with Rome and the old heresy laws were reinstated. By the end of her reign, over 300 men, women and children were burned as heretics.
Mary would soon discover that the teachings of the reformation had taken hold in many of her subjects’ hearts. Her dream of returning England to the Roman Church was never realized; the reformation was much stronger than she had imagined.
With the ascension of Elizabeth to the throne, England once again swung away from the Catholic fold. Under Elizabeth, royal supremacy reigned again and in 1563, thirty nine articles were passed that were Protestant in content. She realized that there was still a minority of Catholic subjects and she wanted to keep the peace. But in the end, fear of Catholic treason forced her to abandon moderation.
The English Reformation was inevitable for three reasons. First, the hearts of the people were searching for something to fulfill their souls. Second, the old church and ecclesiastical system had become greedy and abusive, it was only a matter of time before the resentment of the crown or Englishmen grew to a state of rebellion. Third, there was a growing sense of nationalism and many felt that England should be totally ruled by the English, not a pope.
By the time it had abated in 1660, the English Reformation had affected almost every aspect of life in England.
Source:
Smith, Lacey Balwin. This Realm of England: 1399 to 1688, Lexington: D.C. Heath and Company, 1996.
Craig Hutchison - Greetings! History and writing have always been two of Craig's greatest loves. He can remember as a boy of 10 years old taking field ...
