The English Reformation

Henry VIII (1491–1547), King of England from 1509–1547.

Married Katherine of Aragon (daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella) in 1509. K had been married to Henry’s older brother, Arthur, who had died in 1502.

Henry wasn’t a natural ‘reformer’ – tended to be very conservative about belief and practice: wrote Assertio Septem Sacramentorum (asserting there are seven sacraments) against Luther in 1521. Pope bestowed on him the title Defender of the Faith (Fides Defensor) in thanks.

Katherine failed to produce a male heir: her only surviving child was the princess Mary (1515 – 1558). Henry fell for Anne Boleyn around 1525.

Henry blamed his lack of an heir on God’s wrath (see Lev 20:21). Petitioned for an annullment from the pope on the grounds that the marriage was invalid as contrary to God’s law. Pope couldn’t grant one, as he was imprisoned (in Rome) by forces of Charles V – Holy Roman Emperor – the nephew of Katherine. In addition, a papal dispensation had been granted for the marriage.

All the main churchmen of England tried to assist in getting the annullment, including Cardinal Wolsey (Papal Legate). They failed, which led to Wolsey’s ‘fall’ in 1529 – he was originally a commoner and had lots of enemies at the court. After period of imprisonment and increasing privation, sickened and died on way to trial in York.

In his place, Thomas More became Chancellor. The following year (1530) Thomas Cromwell, a lawyer and Wolsey’s secretary, was appointed to the Privy Council and became the King’s chief adviser. Canon law, controlled by the Pope, was far more significant source of law than today.

In 1530, Thomas Cranmer (1489–1556) who was then a lecturer at Cambridge, sent to seek opinion of the leaders of the reform (inc. …​, Zwingli), who were more obliging in providing a theological justification for annullment, but the existing clergy were obedient to Rome (as was Henry). Cranmer given job as ambassador to the Imperial Court of Charles V. During this time, he had further contact with reformers and married neice of Osiander (reformer in Nuremburg), thus breaking his clerical vow of celibacy. Sign he was, by then, clearly on the side of the reformation.

The old archbishop of Canterbury, Warham, died in 1532, and Cranmer appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry marries Anne (believing that his marriage to Katherine was null and void). Cromwell passes a judgement in parliament that the marriage to Katherine was invalid. Cranmer blesses the marriage in May 1533.Thomas More resigned the previous year, leaving the power behind the throne to Protestants.

Pope Clement threatens Henry with excommunication in July unless new marriage revoked.

From this point on legal authority changed but there was only one church-the catholic church-it was just that the King was in charge of it not the Pope.

Monasticism had fallen into disrepute in late-medieval England. Until Act of Supremacy, only the Pope and bishops could dissolve monasteries. This did happen on occasions (eg. under Cardinal Wolsey). Cromwell’s inventory of monastic possessions (1534). The visitation by Cranmer’s commissioners: exposed bogus use of relics to con pilgrims; sexual immorality. Probably some truth in these but also likely threats from the commissioners to extract confessions.

Suppression of Religious Houses Act in 1535 marked the first stage of dissolution, mainly of minor monastic houses. Importantly, all property of closed religious houses would revert to the Crown (ie. the King). Voluntary closure led to pensions for abbots and monks.

1538, further legislation, enforcing closure on larger monasteries, on pain of treason, e.g. at Glastonbury Abbey.

Although the monasteries’ property was initially owned by the Crown, Henry subsequently sold it off to local gentry to fund his lavish expenditure and the cost of wars he pursued.

Both generally Lutheran: justification by faith, limited sacraments.

So a more [English] Catholic recovery.

Edward became king in 1547, at the age of 9. Edward Seymour became Lord Protector. Protestant reform marches forward throughout the reign.

Mary reinstated old catholic heresy laws and a total of 283 protestants were burned for heresy during her reign. (Hence her title ‘Bloody Mary’). Mary married Philip II of Spain, but – despite a false pregnancy – no heir was born. Mary herself died in 1558.

Elizabeth appointed Matthew Parker as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, the question of Apostolic Succession raised its head. Parker ordained bishop by four bishops: two of these had been ordained using the 1551 Ordinal, two by bishops who had been ordained using the old Latin ordinal. Although these bishops had all be ordained after England broke with Rome, they had all been ordained by bishops who had been ordained when England was still in communion with Rome.

To this date this remains the basis for the validity of Anglican episcopate, though not seen that way by Catholics.

Removal of the ‘Black Rubric’ (from 1552, which denied the presence of Christ in the bread and wine of communion) was omitted.

The Elizabethan ‘Settlement’ – the Continental Reformation was largely complete by the end of her long reign. For reformed Anglicans – the reformation of the Church was incomplete. For others, it was just about enough. James VI of Scotland (James Stewart) accedes to the English throne as James I.

Though Scotland was Calvinist reformed in his reign, James had a Catholic mother and was at heart an autocrate, preferring the control provided by bishops (as opposed to presbyters). Hence he preferred the English Church settlement.

The Millenary Petition (Puritan complaints):

This led to the Hampton Court Conference. No change, but commissioning of a new translation of the Bible, the KJV/Authorised Version.