14-The social impact of religious and economic change under Edward VI
Religious Change Under Somerset
General Overview:
Somerset was Protestant and pursued a considerable move towards Protestantism.
Key Objectives:
Establishment of a single form for services within the Church of England.
Translation of services into English to enhance understanding.
Religious Changes:
Ambiguous Eucharistic Declaration:
Catholic Bishop Gardiner (imprisoned in the Tower) believed it could imply acceptance of transubstantiation.
Radical Attitudes:
A more radical approach was adopted in some places, despite the reluctance of public opinion.
February 1547: Denunciation of images in London, reflecting radical attitudes among churchmen, especially supported by Nicholas Ridley and Protestant activists in London who engaged in widespread iconoclasm.
July 1547 - Injunctions:
Reflected radical government attitudes, attacking many features of popular Catholicism, including lights, images, and stained glass.
December 1547 - Dissolution of Chantries and Religious Guilds:
The Crown needed money for foreign policy, leading to the abolition of chantries, guilds, and lay brotherhoods. Their properties were seized by the Crown, representing a further attack on popular Catholicism.
May 1549 - Introduction of the Book of Common Prayer:
Aimed for a uniform approach to religious services, introducing a more moderate approach to religious reform compared to the radicalism of 1547.
Social Impact of Religious Changes:
These changes represented a sustained attack on the religious experience of ordinary people.
The Injunctions of 1547 attacked traditional Catholic practices.
Chantries and religious guilds, which supported charity, feasts, and communal links with the dead, were destroyed. There was widespread fear that this would lead to systematic asset stripping of the Church’s resources.
Religious Change Under Northumberland
General Overview:
Northumberland sought to continue Protestant reforms initiated under Somerset while plundering more of the Church's wealth.
The political context of the time influenced a more radical approach to Protestantism, especially as Cranmer, traditionally cautious, began to move towards more radical reforms.
Key Religious Changes:
The Book of Common Prayer, 1552:
Introduced by Cranmer, this book marked a significant shift in religious practice.
Key Changes:
Removal of Conservative Ceremonies: The book no longer allowed for the retention of conservative Catholic ceremonies, making it more radical.
Rewriting of Baptism, Confirmation, and Burial Services: These were rewritten to make them more understandable to the congregation, showing Cranmer’s desire for simplicity in church services.
Radical Reform of Communion Service: The wafer was replaced by ordinary bread, removing ambiguity present in the 1549 Prayer Book.
Impact on Society of Religious Changes:
Gradual Implementation: Orders to destroy old Catholic practices were enforced gradually. Responses to the restoration of Catholicism in 1553 were swift.
Expenditure on Church Goods Declined (Post-1540):
As plays, ales, and guilds were suppressed, churches began to lose affection and money, leading to a decline in attendance and support.
Evidence: A decline in the number of candidates for ordination, contributing to a manpower shortage in the Church.
January 1553 - Confiscation of Church Plate:
The Crown began confiscating church plate, though some parishes were able to hide their treasures.
The Crown’s attack on parish assets led to growing discontent and a sense of fear among parishioners.
Consequences:
The attack on church assets, history, and collective memory led to widespread discontent and disobedience.
This unrest became evident with the accession of Queen Mary, when many parishes spontaneously returned to traditional Catholic practices.