Mid-Tudor Crisis: Religion

Explain Henry VIII's religious reforms towards the end of his reign? (2)

1539 - Passed the Act of Six Articles which reinforced Catholic doctrine e.g. deemed denial of transubstantiation as heretical > replaced the Act of 10 Articles (1536) which had reinforced Protestant ideas.

1543 - Bishop's book revised - originally restored the 4 sacraments removed from the Act of Ten Articles BUT given lower status in comparison to the main three: Baptism, Penance and the Eucharist.

Why was Henry VIII's religious reforms, late in his reign, significant/ insignificant in relation to a crisis in religion?

Instability?

> beginning of the pendulum during the 'Mid-Tudor Crisis' going between Protestantism/ Catholicism.

Stability?

> returning to the long-held tradition of Catholicism after a brief deviation.

When was the Pilgrimage of Grace? And what caused it?

1536 - caused primarily by the Dissolution of the Monasteries which began in 1536 when HVIII ordered the closure of all Catholic monasteries, convents and friaries; seizing all assets, wealth and land to enrich the Crown and fund military campaigns.

Why was the Pilgrimage of Grace significant/ insignificant in relation to a crisis in religion?

1. demonstrates deepening religious and socio-economic tensions - largest popular uprising in Tudor history with around £30,000 rebels.

2. demonstrates there was NOT widespread support for Henry's break away from Catholicism.

3. Drastic religious reform could escalate into major political challenge to the royal authority of the King.

BUT - relatively geographically limited.

What were the religious reforms under Edward VI? (7)

• Repealed the Act of Six Articles + Treason Act + Chantries Act - condemned prayers for the dead & the removal of supestitious images...

• Royal Injunctions (1547) ordered preaching to be done in the vernacular + decreed there must be an English Bible in every church + attacked guilds & confraternities by confiscating money/ land.

• Introduction of the First Prayer Book (1549) + Act of Uniformity (1549) outlined the new official protestant liturgy to be used in Church services.

• Second Book of Common Prayer (1552) - outlined the Eucharist as one of purely 'spiritual presence' and replaced traditional wafer with ordinary bread + replaced altars with communion tables because they implied there was something to worship according to Catholics.

• Second Act of Uniformity and, later, the Black Rubric (both 1552) - clarified no role for kneeling for the Eucharist.

• New Treason Act (1552) - illegal to question royal supremacy or any article of faith of the church.

• Cramner's 42 Articles of Religion - affirmed Protestant nature of official doctrine.

Describe some of the other religious 'trends' or circumstances that contributed to general feelings on religious instability under Edward VI? (3)

1. Murder of commissioner William Body in 1548 over destruction of Church images - likely contributed to support of the Western Rebellion (1549).

2. Decline in bequests to the church + falling church attendance + reduction in ordination candidates + less money left to churches in wills... (crisis at parish level?)

3. radical refomred e.g. Martin Buber or Peter Martyr moved to England & became more influential.

What were the religious reforms under Mary I? (5)

• Imprisoned Cramner, Latimer, Ridley & other percieved leaders of the Protestant reformation.

• Parliament passed Act of Repeal 1555 - returned liturgy/ doctrine to its position under the 1547 Act of Six Articles BUT parliament refused to repeal Act of Supremacy which declared monarch as head of Church (not Pope).

  • Gave this up voluntarily in 1553, declaring Pope as head.

• Royal Injunctions for Bishops - suppress heresy & remove married clergy (removed 25% including Archbishop of York).

• Return of Cardinal Pole from exile + Second Act of Repeal returned England to position pre-1529 BUT Parliament refused to return former monastic lands to the Church.

• At least 300 protestants were burned at the stake for heresy, including reformation 'leaders' such as Bishop Latimer and Archbishop Cranmer.

What was a legatine synod?

a joint assembly summoned by a papal legate; in this context, Pole, as papal legate, had the right to summon clergy from both provinces of the English Church - Canterbury and York - to a legatine synod.

Explain the purpose/impact of Pole's legatine synod?

1555-1556

> outlined his expectations of Catholic bishops:

>> were to reside in their dioceses, were to preach, and were to oversee the religious life of their parishes.

>> proposed (although never implemented) that each cathedral should have a seminary attached for the training of new recruits to the priesthood.

What are some other circumstances/ 'trends' that could have contributed to the feeling of a religious crisis under Mary I? (2)

• Mass exodus of Protestants - over 800 left England.

• approx 50% of English population have no real (living) memory of the pre-Reformation Church (true Catholicism).

Relationship with the Papacy under Mary? (2/3)

• After death of Julius, Pope Paul IV was hostile towards Cardinal Pole (papal legate/Archbishop of Canterbury) regarding him as a heretic and also Spain due to his disdain for Philip II.

  • After was broke out in 1555, Pope opposed Spain (and England as support for Spain) = essentially at war with the papacy.

• dismissed Pole as papal legate in 1557 - no longer could act on Pope's behalf in supervision over C of E BUT Mary trusted Pole and indirectly refused to acknowledge the newly appointed papal Legate William Peto...

Explain religious reform under Elizabeth I? (5)

• 1559 Act of Supremacy - declared herself 'Supreme Governor' of the Church of England.

• 1559 Act of Uniformity established the use of a single Book of Common Prayer - restored ambiguity between the wordings of the 1549 Prayer Book.

• Enforced Church attended, applicable to everyone - fine of 5p for absences.

• Injunctions in 1559 e.g. Bible in every church, banned Catholic practices, like Pilgrimages, allowed clerical marriage if met certain criteria & protected fonts/ alters from destruction.

• 150 Catholic Priests burnt at the stake.

Give details on the 1559 Act of Supremacy and how it relates to the idea of a 'mid-Tudor crisis'? (3)

• created middle ground as satisfied Protestants (asserted her authority) + satisfied Catholics (could still respect their Queen but could internally/ personally view Pope as ultimate head.

• as a result, restored Royal Visitation rights for the monarch + repealed heresy laws + required an oath of loyalty.

• led to all but 1 of Mary's bishops & 4% of total clergy resigning/ deprived of their posts = evidence of disruption but certainly not widespread.

Give details on the 1559 Act of Uniformity and how it relates to the idea of a 'mid-Tudor crisis'? (2)

• Clarification - omitted the 'Black Rubric' denying transubstantiation BUT allowing people to stand/kneel depending on personal beliefs.

• returned all ornaments of Church and it's ministers to that if before the 1549 Act of Uniformity - caused problems with Calvinist clergy who viewed the items as 'popish'.