Reform of the Church

WHta changes were made to the church during 1532 - 40?

Between 1532 and 1540 Henry VIII, assisted by Thomas Cromwell and Archbishop Cranmer:

• Withdrew the English Church from the jurisdiction of the papacy

• Established the king as supreme head of the Church

• Dissolved the monasteries and began to alter the Church’s doctrine and practices

Weaknesses of the Church

Corruption

Who assisted Henry for these church reforms?

Henry VIII was assisted by Thomas Cromwell and Archbishop Cranmer

Church Weakness

What was highly associated with the Church?

Corruption

• A range of offences involving corruption was associated with the Church

What were some of the corruption offences?

These included:

• Pluralism (receiving the profits of more than one post)

• Simony (the purchase of Church office)

• Non-residence (receiving the profits of a post but not being present to perform the duties associated with it)

Anticlericalism

Anticlericalism

Opposition to the Church, especially from late 15th century leading into the Reformation. It encompassed diverse opinions and motives

What were the 4 main strands of anticlericalism?

J. J. Scarisbrick's four main strands of anticlericalism:

• Negative, destructive anticlericalism

• Positive, secular, and idealistic anticlericalism

• Positive, religious, and idealistic anticlericalism

• Anticlericalism of heresy (Lollardy)

Negative, destructive anticlericalism

• Dissatisfaction at local levels (e.g., resentment towards local clergy or ecclesiastical courts).

• Not driven by deep theological reasons

Positive, secular, and idealistic anticlericalism

• Desire among laypeople (e.g., Thomas Cromwell) to reform the English Church.

• Aimed to remove papal foreign authority, redirect church wealth, and integrate church courts into the state judicial system

Positive, religious, and idealistic anticlericalism

Theologically motivated call for fundamental reforms in Christian life and church practices

Anticlericalism of heresy (Lollardy)

• Emphasised personal piety and scripture, founded by John Wycliffe.

• Opposed traditional religious emphasis on sacraments and veneration of saints.

• Advocated actions guided directly by the Bible

Decline of monasticism

What operations were subjected to religious criticisms?

The operation of religious houses was subject to criticism

When did the dissolving of monasteries begin?

Precedents for dissolving monasteries existed prior to the 1530s

How many monasteries did Wolsey dissolve?

Wolsey dissolved around 20 houses in the 1520s to fund Cardinal College, Oxford.

How did the function of monasteries change?

• Some historians argue monasticism was outdated and lacked direction

• Larger monasteries had become large-scale businesses with extensive land and resources.

How did the shift in functions of monasteries justify the dissolving?

• The rapid and relatively easy dissolution of monasteries supports the view that they were outdated or problematic

• Some orders, like the Observant Franciscans and Bridgettines, remained thriving until the end of the dissolution.

Evidence of early English Protestantism

What was linked to Protestantism?

Dissent linked to anticlericalism was also connected to Protestantism

How was the attitude toward Protestantism?

There is little evidence of a significant movement toward Protestantism immediately after Luther’s 1517 attack on the Catholic Church

How was reformation during ML?

• Some surviving Lollard beliefs persisted during this period

• Evidence of influence from German reformers seen in London and east-coast ports in the 1520s

• An intellectual core of future reformers existed in Cambridge during the 1520s, meeting for religious discussions at the White Horse inn

Who were some fop the leading figures in the group of reformers at Cambridge?

• An intellectual core of future reformers existed in Cambridge during the 1520s, meeting for religious discussions at the White Horse inn

• Leading figure of this group: Robert Barnes, converted to Protestantism by Thomas Bilney

What happened to h Barnes and Binley?

Both Barnes and Bilney were later burned as heretics during Henry VIII’s reign

Who was the most influential member of the Cambridge group?

The most influential member of the Cambridge group was the future Archbishop Cranmer

How was widespread widespread or committed evangelism during the early period overall?

Overall, evidence for widespread or committed evangelism remains limited during this early period

Erasmianism and the Reformation

Who influenced a royal policy

It is argued that from 1529, a group of humanists inspired by Erasmus influenced royal policy

What is the evidence to support the group that influenced royal policy

• Evidence for this is limited; prominent humanists like Sir Thomas More and Bishop Fisher opposed religious reforms and paid with their lives

• Some reformers, such as Archbishop Cranmer, had humanist connections

Why did some people support humanist reforms?

• Not all reformers were humanists; some, like Bishops Gardiner and Tunstall, supported reforms to protect their positions, even if they did not believe in them

How was Humanism seen in Henrys personal life?

During Henry VIII’s later years, a humanist approach to reform persisted:

• Cranmer remained in favour despite opposition

• Henry VIII appointed humanists John Cheke and Roger Ascham as tutors for his son Edward and daughter Elizabeth, respectively

• Katherine Parr, Henry’s last wife, had a humanist education and was a patron of arts and literature