Back to the video list: History of the British Isles

 

The Church of England broke away from Rome during the 16th century. As the earlier Reformation by Martin Luther the English Reformation had a massive influence on European history.

 

Video

 

 

Overview

  • Date: 16th century
  • Location: England
  • Event:
    • Separation of the Church of England from the Catholic Church in Rome
    • Reformation of the Church of England

 

Parties & Persons Involved

  • Monarchs of the House of Tudor
  • Clerics, politicians & other persons, amongst others:
    • Anne Boleyn (1501 – 1536)
    • Thomas Cromwell (1485 - 1540)
    • Thomas Cranmer (1489 – 1556)

 

Background

  • Martin Luther's Reformation (1517 – 1524) spreads over Europe & reaches England
  • Since the 14th century several reformatory movements, i.e. the Lollards, in England
  • Continuous power struggles between the English monarchs & the Pope
    • Please note esp.: Statute of Praemunire (1393) – Prohibition to follow a foreign power, esp. the Pope
  • The Tudor dynasty establishes itself during the Wars of the Roses (1455 – 1485)

 

History

  • 1509: Henry VIII is crowned & marries Catherine of Aragon
  • 1521: Henry VIII defends Catholicism against Martin Luther in his book “Defence of the Seven Sacraments“ & the Pope proclaims him “Defender of the Faith“
  • 1522: Anne Boleyn arrives at the court & Henry falls in love with her
  • From 1522: Convinced Protestants gain influence, i.e. Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell & Thomas Cranmer
  • 1527: Henry asks the Pope for an annulment of his marriage to Catherine
  • Pope Clement VII rejects
  • 1531: Henry uses the Statute of Praemunire firstly against leading clerics & then against the whole clergy
  • In return for a royal pardon the church recognises the supremacy of the king
  • 1533: The new Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer annuls Henry’s marriage with Catherine – Henry & Anne Boleyn get married
  • 1529 – 1536: The “Reformation Parliament“ passes laws which stop the Papal influence on law & the church
  • 1536 – 1541: Dissolution of the monasteries
  • Until 1538: The Reformation is accompanied by disputes & violence
  • 1538 – 1545: Henry takes back some of the Reformatory achievements (esp. The Six Articles, 1539), i.e. reintroduction of the celibacy, prohibition of Bible studies for laymen & prohibition of criticising the sacraments
  • 1547: Henry VIII dies & his 9 year old son Edward VI ascents to the throne
  • 1547 – 1553: The reigning Privy Council reinforces the Reformation, i.e. through:
    • Abolishment of the celibacy & iconolatry
    • Reformation of the order of worship
    • Renewal of the understanding of the sacraments
  • 1553: Edward VI dies & his Catholic half-sister Mary ascents to the throne
  • From 1553: Mary I tries not very successfully to reintroduce Catholicism & oppresses Protestants
  • 1555 – 1558: Under “Bloody“ Mary 283 Protestants are burnt as heretics
  • 1558: Mary I dies & her half-sister Elizabeth I ascents to the throne
  • 1558: Elizabeth establishes the Church of England through:
    • Act of Supremacy: Reintroduction of the earlier Reformatory laws
    • Act of Uniformity: Obligation to attend an Anglican service
  • 1558 – 1603: 3 groups form until the end of Elizabeth’s reign:
    • Catholics as an oppressed minority
    • Puritans with far reaching Reformatory ideas
    • Anglicans as a moderately Reformatory church in the Catholic tradition

 

Consequences & Impact

  • The Church of England is established as an independent church
  • Difficulties for religious minorities, esp. Catholics, for a long time
  • England (& later the United Kingdom) secures her independence & with it lays the basis for her ascent to being a global superpower
  • The different religious movements, esp. Puritans & mainstream Church of England, are an important factor on the English Civil War (1642 – 1651), the Interregnum (1649 – 1660) & the Restoration (1660 – 1688)