Church History: The English Church A.D.

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1 I. Overview of the Differences between the Reformations on the Continent and in England A. On the Continent the Reformation was for the most part started and driven by the reformers and the followers, In was only in the aftermath of the religious revolution that politics became involved 1. Germany and Luther 2. France 3. Holland 4. Exceptions a. Denmark and Sweden where the reformation was a more a political revolution with religious consequences B. England will be unlike either of these in that it will be exclusively a political revolution and any religious consequences that might have developed or in fact tried to develop were actively resisted by the author and instigator of the political revolution. 1. This will lead to the development of a unique church 2. the story of how all this came about is and this development and the churches that it created will be our focus over the next week or two C. Analogy of the Family II. The English Church before the Reformation A. Ambiguous History of Detachment from Rome 1. Celtic Church 2. Henry II ( ) a. Conflict with Thomas Beckett over control of the Church in England (priests tried by secular or Church courts) 3. John I ( ) a. Conflict with the Pope over the appointment of bishops in England 4. Wycliffe ( ) a. Conflict with the worldiness and wealth of the Church claim for the king the right to govern and rule the church

2 5. Opposition to France ( ) B. Anti-clericalism a. French control of the Papacy during the 1300 s 1. The Peasants Revolt 2. Wycliffe 3. Cardinal Wolsey a. Papal Legate and Henry VIII s chief minister at the beginning of the his reign b. Was vastly unpopular for his wealth and his reforms of the tax system that forced the rich to pay more c. Non Moral life concubine and at least two children. 4. All of this led to many of the laity and even clergy wishing that the authority of the Pope in England would be diminished or even removed C. Remaining Loyal to Catholicism 1. The Church controlled between 1/5 and 1/3 of the land in England 2. The Church also processed special judicial and tax rights 3. These led to King needing the added power of the pope to control the great power and wealth of the Church in England 4. Even with a tradition of opposition to the Pope the vast majority of the people were not affected by the teaching and writings of Luther and the other reformers on the continent before D. Growth in Power to King 1. The king of England with the aid of the Pope and Wolsey already controlled patronage of much of the best church lands in England. 2. If the people of the kingdom became sufficiently hostile to the church then and only then could Henry VIII throw off the need to the Pope and his cardinal and control the Church himself a. But there seems little chance for this or need because of E. Henry s strong Catholic Faith

3 1. Hear mass five times daily unless he was hunting and then just 3 2. Wrote or at least signed a treatise defending the Catholic Sacraments against Luther in 1521 a. Awarded the title: Defender of the Faith III. The Problems of Henry A. The Need of a Successor 1. The Problem of all Monarchies is the issue of succession and the quality of the successor a. Who will be the successor? i. History as many examples b. A good king is the best form of government and a bad king is the worst. i. History is full of examples c. The is the issue that brought about the destruction of the Roman Empire and also the thing that brought about its greatest period of peace and prosperity 2. Henry has only a legitimate daughter with his wife Catherine of Aragon a. Mary i. There has never been a sitting Queen of England before this time, the last time it was attempted with the daughter of Henry I (Matilda) (granddaughter of William the Conqueror) a rebellion broke out led by her cousin Stephen This period of rebellion was aptly called the Anarchy and was in actually a civil war that from In addition to the uncertainty concerning the probability that his daughter would be able to sit on the throne of his country Henry had the added reminder of the brutal civil war that his father had finally ended. 4. The War of the Roses (1399, ) Lancasters(red) vs York (white) a. In 1377 Edward III one of the longest ruling kings of England died and was succeeded by his Grandson Richard III (he was so long lived that he outlived his son the famous Edward the Black Prince).

4 b. Richard though his reign began propitiously with his successful suppression of the Peasants Revolt did not remain popular. c. He was over thrown by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke the duke of Lancaster, and he was able to reign for the next 14 years suppressing many revolts d. His son the famous Henry V reigned for only 9 but during that nine years ruled a peaceful England strengthening the Lancaster s claim to the throne through a series of successful military campaigns that left him virtually in control of all of France. i. he married the King of France s daughter and was proclaimed the heir to the French Throne. Unfortunately for him he died at the relatively young age of 36 and his 9 month-old son Henry VI was crowned the new king of England Not only was his son a baby but also he most likely seems to have inherited the Valois insanity e. Civil war breaks out between the Lancastrian house led by Margret of Anjou the wife of Henry VI and his cousin Richard the Duke of York. f. Eventually both Henry and Richard are killed. Richard in Battle and Henry murdered on the Orders of the New Yorkish King Edward IV. g. On Edward s sudden death he is succeed by his brother Richard III who most likely murders Edwards two young sons. h. Opposition to Richard centered around the remaining heir to the house of Lancaster Henry Tutor. i. He invaded England with French help and defeated and killed Richard III at the battle of Bosworth Field Henry then strengthen his claim to the throne by marrying Elizabeth of York the best heir to the Yorkish claim to the throne j. Henry had to survive several rebellions and attempts by other members and supports of the House of York to overthrow him. 5. It is little wonder that his son like the son of so many others over the previous century was on doubt worried that if he did not have a male heir to the throne to succeed him the country could very well be plunged back into another destructive round of civil wars.

5 a. The English Nation at the beginning of the War of the Roses had been the most powerful and wealthiest Kingdom in Europe b. Even during the middle if you want to call the Reign of Henry the V the middle and not the beginning this was still the case. c. By the end of the war England was one of the weakest and poor countries in Europe having been passed by both Spain and France, d. many of the best nobles had been killed during the war, at just the battle of Towton in 1461, 20,000 were killed, and these would among the greatest noble in England 3/4 of the noble of the country fought in the battle. 5. Aside from the natural desire for a male heir which Catherine (who was 40) seems unable to supply him with Henry has a theological foundation for his desire for request to be released from his marriage a. Catherine had been married to his older Brother Arthur i. Arthur died four month later and Catherine claimed that the marriage was never consummated (Arthur was only 15 and she just 16) i Henry VII did not wish to return the dowry and so it was agreed that she would marry Arthur s younger brother Henry when he became old enough. This took place 7 years later. The King had to receive a special dispensation from the Pope since Church Law forbid men to marry their brother s widow b. Henry Claimed that based on this law which originated in Lev. 20:21 was the reason that his marriage had failed to produce a male heir. i. Catherine had miscarried one and given birth to two sons that did not survive longer than 2 months 6. Henry had at this time become infatuated with the sister (Anne) of one of his former mistresses (Mary Boleyn) a. She unlike her sister refused to sleep with Henry until they were married b. Since a Papal dispensation had authorized the marriage and since Catherine staunchly refused to renounce her rights, Henry could not get one of his compliant local bishops to annul the marriage.

6 c. Henry in his obsession to produce and an heir sent to Rome asking that his obviously inappropriate first marriage be cancelled and he be allowed to contract a new one. B. The Problems of the Clement VII 1. Normally a king having a marriage annulled was not big deal especially for the worldly Renaissance Pope who in ordinary circumstances were only too willing to help kings out interpreting marriage laws in ways that benefited them. 2. Unfortunately for Henry the Pope was going to find Henry s request to be very difficult if not impossible. a. First to overturn the previous explicit dispensation of a Pope was to declare the decision of that Pope invalid and to say that the previous Pope did not have the right to set aside the legal problem that had stood in the way of Henry and Catherine s marriage and that was obviously a thing that the Clement was not going to wish to do. b. Second the pope was at the moment the prisoner of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Catherine s nephew. As Charles army had just finished capturing and sacking Rome. Charles did not favor an annulment and so obviously the Clement as his prison was powerless to grant Henry s wish. 3. Henry spent two years negotiating with Rome before finally deciding on a new track that would eventually led to his break with Rome. IV. Henry s Reformation A. A Compliant Parliament 1. After spending years trying to find a release from his fruitless marriage Henry began to use political pressure to try and pressure Rome into given him what he wanted. 2. He began by dismissing Wolsey and in his place appointing two ministers with decidedly protestant leanings. a. Thomas Cromwell as his chief political advisor b. Thomas Cranmer as the Archbishop of Canterbury (head of the English Church) and the Boleyn chaplain

7 3. Henry a formerly staunch Catholic now began circulating Lutheran literature, letting Rome understand that if it did not give him what he wanted he would follow the Lutherans out of the Church. 4. To strengthen his power in 1529 he called Parliament into session and over the next six years they passed a series of decisions B. Henry s Wish a. suspended payments to Rome b. abolished clerical appeals to Rome c. finally declared that all papal rights and privileges were transferred to the king and that the king was the supreme head of the Church 1. One in the same year that appeals to Rome were Abolished Cranmer as head of the English Church declared Henry s marriage to Catherine void and married Henry to Anne Boleyn 2. Catherine was banished from court and spend the remainder of her life in confined to a castle in England where she died just two years later C. Opposition 1. Opposition to Henry s decision and action was small especially in the South of England. a. Small rebellion in the North in 1536 that was easily defeated 2. Only two prominent officials refused to swear the oath acknowledging henry as the Head of the English Church both were beheaded. a. Thomas Moore former chief political Advisor(chancellor) b. John Fisher Bishop of Rochester 3. For the most part higher clergy went along willingly or at least silently. D. Not a Reformation 1. One should not suppose, that by replacing the Pope with a King, England had become a Protestant Nation this is not the case. 2. At first there was no change in Doctrine, practice or organization

8 a. Henry continued to persecute Heretics (Protestants) William Tyndale who translated the first modern English version of the New Testament was strangled and burnt in Brussels on Henry s orders i. The Importance of Tyndale s NT and Coverdale s complete translation of the Bible 1535 in Zurich in both the Later King James version of the Bible 80% of the KJV is Tyndale and Coverdale and our on modern English Language 3. The ease of the change from Pope to King encouraged Henry and Cromwell do more though not from religious motivations 4. But this was about to change and once again not for religious reason or even for love but from simple greed. E. The Suppression of the Monasteries 1. Beginning in 1535 Cromwell began inspecting the monasteries looking for irregularity 2. the following year all the smaller Monasteries those with an annual value less than 200 were dissolved a. It seems that the King even now didn t intend to do away with all the monasteries, he even founded two in But in the same year many of the larger monasteries began to dissolve themselves voluntarily after being visited by Henry s inspectors a. reasoned that they would soon be suppressed anyway b. many houses were in poor financial situations c. many monks and nuns were happy to be given their freedom 4. In 1539 Parliament gave all monastic land to the crown. a. None of the abbots in the House of Lords protested b. the disillusion was peaceful 5. the disillusionment was the most social important event of the revolution/reformation 1. Money was provided as pensions and dowries for monks and nuns 2. A small amount went to found new education institutions.

9 3. The lion s share went to the Crown F. Reforming the English Reformation a. The revenue of the Crown increased by 100,000 annually A. The Stone goes down hill 1. Like others before him Henry discovered that once change beginning it is very hard to stop or direct it. i. English Bibles placed in all Churches though after 1543 these were only to read by the priests 2. Many in England especially the educated middle class and even many high in the royal court that favored further truly Protestant reforms B. Henry s Reactions a. Cranmer was already married when he was appoint Archbishop (although the King probably didn t know this) b. Cranmer s own ideas and beliefs seem to have matured over the years and i. By 1546 he believe in Justification by faith alone, and no longer believed in transubstantiation 1. Henry attempted especially in his last years to halt any Protestant ideas from entering the church a. The six articles 1539 i. these happen just before the fall and execution of Cromwell for his disastrous choice of Anne of Cleves as Henry s fourth wife i iv. upheld Transubstantiation, private masses, confession, and clerical celibacy Many more protestant inclined bishops were forced to flee and Cranmer was forced to send his wife to the Continent for 4 years. Treason charges were brought against Cranmer but the King refused to remove Cranmer he liked him too much

10 The King famously told Cranmer jestingly as they were sailing down the Thames, I know now who is the great heretic in Kent. 2. Although he acted to root out protestant ideas from the Church the future course of the Church was set by the education of the heir Edward VI, as his tutors and eventually his Protector was the Protestant Dukes of Summerset and Northumberland both friends of Cranmer i. Henry dies at the age of 55 in V. A Truly Protestant Church: The Reign of Edward VI A. Protestants take charge 1. the repressive six articles are abolished by Parliament (1547) 2. Doctrinal, and practical changes a. Communion in both kinds b. Destruction of abused images c. legalized marriage of the Clergy (Cranmers wife is able to return) d. Service in English e. revision of the liturgy (the book of Common Prayer) 3. Influx of Foreign Protestant Leaders over teach positions at English University and pass on their ideas to a generation of new Protestant leaders a. Bucer B. The Prayer Book b. Peter Vermigli c. John a Lasco 1. The Creation of a English Liturgy a. Cranmer the author and it is his work i. A beautiful liturgy

11 b. Luther in that it does not remove from the service unless demanded to do so by scripture c. But many don t feel that it goes far enough in removing catholic features i. Even Cranmer is dissatisfied with it by the time it is done d. It is revised in 1552 i. Cranmer is helped in the revision by martin bucer in even further simplifies the worship of the English church C. The problem of Time most importantly is moves away from teaching the real presence of Christ in the elements of the Eucharist e. The revision still did not satisfy many of the more radical reformers 1. For the majority of the population of the country to change from a Catholic faith to a Protestant one will of course take time a. In 1553 English was legally a Protestant country but the majority of the population especially the poor and uneducated it had not yet taken roots 2. Unfortunately the Protestants are running out a. Edward always a sickly child died at the age of 15 b. Even though he tried to assure the continuation of Protestantism by designating his cousin Lady Jane Grey as his heir c. Claim was rejected by the majority of the people (not just those who wished to return to Catholicism) and Mary the daughter of Catherine and Henry VIII was proclaimed queen i. Jane was executed VI. Mary I A. The Catholics Return 1. Mary was a fanatical Catholic and there is small wonder why

12 2. her object was not just the return of Catholic practices, belief and worship to England but to return the country to obedience to Rome a. Bishops were imprisoned or fled i. Cranmer imprisoned b. over 2000 clergy removed for having married c. Parliament overturned the Protestant legislation of Edward s reign 3. She found it easier to return the people to her father s Anglo-Catholicism rather than to true Catholicism B. The Blood a. Parliament had no desire to see Papal authority return to England i. And even though Parliament repealed Henry s legislation against the Pope it confirmed the confiscation lands from the Monasteries b. Even this was not always easy especially in London and in the South of England were Protestant ideas had taken greater hold i. In London there was a near rebellion when to restoration of their churches to their pre 1547 appearance, complete with altars, bells, roods, censors, and vestments. 1. in December 1554 Mary revived statutes against heresy and within two months the first of almost 300 Protestants was burned at the stake a. These included 5 former Bishops b. The Tale of Cranmer i. Friars sent to persuade him of his errors and he submits and he submits to the Catholic Church and the Pope. i Mary does not care and determined to make an example out of him. on the day of his execution in his speech in University Church he deviated from his prepared sermon and once again renounced the Pope and the Catholic Church

13 iv. Pulled from the pulpit he was dragged to the stake there as the flames closed about him he fulfilled his promise made earlier and but the hand that had sign the recantation in the heart of the flame and let it burn first. Saying that unworthy hand 2. Mary could not force her Catholicism on England anymore than Calvin could have forced his reforms on Geneva a. No one under the age of 35 could remember a Catholic England b. As Mary s violence increased the feelings of the population turned against the queen and her religion and toward a Protestantism that many of them might not have favored otherwise i. The latent anti-clericalism that was a characteristic of earlier England received a terrible vindication with Mary s bloody pogrom Before Mary Protestantism was identified in the minds of many people with church robbery, destruction, irreverence, anarchy and after Mary it was identified with virtue, honesty, and patriotic resistance to half foreign rule c. The Queen had underestimated the people and far from turning the country back to her beloved Catholicism she had insured its place in the protestant orbit. d. She also in forcing into exile many of the leading Protestants in Europe proved them an opportunity for them to learn and grow in their beliefs as saw what a truly Protestant society could look like they grew more and more content to bide their time abroad while the heirless queen ruled back home knowing that time was on their side this time. C. Mary s Problem 1. She was 37 and even though she married (Philip II of Spain) there seemed little likelihood she would be able to produce an heir 2. If Catholicism was to survive she would have to produce an heir and after 1555 when Philip left England all hope for an heir was gone. 3. Mary died in November 1558 and her half sister Elizabeth the Daughter of Anne Boleyn became Queen.

14 VII. Elizabeth I A. The Moderate 1. Elizabeth was Protestant how could she be otherwise when the Catholic Church viewed her as illegitimate thus place her claim to the throne in doubt 2. But she was no religious zealot. a. She was crafty and good at telling people what they wanted to hear and believe b. She was in favor of a religious settlement like that of her father i. A Catholicism without the Pope This was no longer possible the country was too polarized the Catholics were more conservative and the Protestants more radical after the reign of Mary c. she was forced to go further down the protestant road that she would have like but she had no other choice i. She had no choice and despite her own persona preferences, the Prayer Book and many of the reforms of her brother Edward were returned. d. While she had to appease the Protestants she could not do so at the expense of losing the north of England, or the alliance with Spain (all that was standing in the way of a French invasion of England) i. Her explanation of her plan was to go warily as: Glasses with small necks, if liquor was poured into them suddenly and violently, would not be so filled, but refuse to receive it. i She aimed at creating a compromise religion that would be acceptable to both conservatives and the more radical The new English church straddled many theological and practical issues and aimed for broad inclusiveness rather than an ideological purity. e. Her plan worked for even though most of the bishops and leaders of the Marian church refused to work with her only about 300 out of the over 9000 clergy in England either resigned or were deprived.

15 2. Elizabeth s religious compromise might have finally put Protestantism firmly in place in England but the real reforming force of the Reformation had not yet truly begun. i. In many ways the real Reformation of the English church only begins with Elizabeth.