Catholic and Protestant Beliefs and Practices

Catholic v Protestant: Practices and Beliefs

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What was the Religious Legacy left to Edward VI in 1547?

Henry's reign had been a confused mix of religious change:

1533-1538 - The Reformation had taken place, and many clear steps towards Protestantism had been taken.
1539-1547 - There had been a reversal back to re-establishing elements of Catholicism.

Both Protestants and Catholics had been burnt for heresy during Henry's reign.

Edward VI was a minor, and so incapable of ruling the country by himself. Instead, he had a Regency Council, set up by his father to rule until Edward was 16. The Council was split between Protestants and Catholics, adding to the confusion of the legacy. Edward's tutors had been Protestant, suggesting that Henry wanted his son to pursue a Protestant future for England. However, the sense of religious confusion left by Henry in 1547 made it unclear what he wanted.

Why wasn't there more Opposition to the Reformation?

England had been a Catholic country for centuries, and the English were happy to follow traditional Catholic practices before the Reformation. Although Henry VIII had torn the English Church apart during the 1530s, there was remarkably little opposition to his actions. This was because of a number of reasons:

1. Fear. Obedience to and respect for Henry's decisions was a result of the sheer power of the Crown to torture or execute those who did not agree with the religious changes. People were afraid to go against Henry.
2. Many people thought that the changes wouldn't last. They did not oppose the Reformation because they believed that before long, Henry would return to the Pope in Rome, and Catholicism would be entirely restored in England.
3. Many people thought that Henry would remain Catholic. Not even the Pope really believed that Henry would dare to break with Rome. This became evident when Henry imprisoned Bishop Fisher: a Catholic bishop who opposed the religious changes that Henry was making. When Henry threatened to have Fisher executed, the Pope made Fisher a cardinal, believing that Henry would never dare to execute such a holy man. Fisher was executed, proving that people were wrong to believe that he would remain Catholic.
4. Many people benefitted from the changes, and so were more than happy to support Henry. They had self-interests at heart.
5. People wished to preserve themselves: they were happy to switch religions if it meant that they would escape persecution.
6. Some extremely powerful people supported Protestantism, mainly because they made gains from the Reformation and the break with Rome. The most important of these people were Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer. Anne Boleyn became Queen as a result of the religious change, Cromwell became very powerful and wealthy because he helped Henry with the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and Cranmer became Archbishop of Canterbury: the most powerful religious man in England. These three supported the King in his religious change.
7. Ordinary people did not notice the changes. They were not concerned with complicated theological arguments and the intricacies of changes in doctrine: they still attended church every Sunday, and took part in Communion. They did not really notice any change and so did not oppose it.
8. Religious changes were made separately, in steps rather than all at once. Had the steps towards Protestantism happened all at the same time, Henry may have met with much more opposition. However, the changes took place over a number of years instead.

What were the key Catholic steps during Henry's reign?

Key Catholic steps:

1539 - Act of Six Articles. This marked the beginning of the reactionary period, which would last until the end of Henry's reign. The Six Articles re-affirmed six points of Catholic doctrine, and imposed severe penalties on those who would not accept these steps:

• Transubstantiation - those denying this Catholic practice would be burnt.
• Communion
• Priests could not marry
• Chastity for monks and nuns
• Private masses allowed (previously they had been forbidden)
• Confession

Protestant reformers referred to the Act as a 'whip with six strings'.

1543 - Act for the Advancement of True Religion. This restricted the reading of the Bible to clerics and noblemen only. It also prohibited Protestant literature.

1543 - The King's Book was published. This defended the Catholic practice of transubstantiation and re-affirmed the Six Articles.

What were the key Protestant steps during Henry VIII's reign?

Key Protestant changes:

1533 - Act of Restraint of Appeals - gave King all the power - no appeals to Rome.
1534 - Act of Succession - Anne Boleyn and the announcement of the power of any foreign authority.
1534 - Act of Supremacy
1536 - Ten Articles - Improve clergy and worship of the people. Against pilgrimage. Children to learn Lord's prayer and the Ten Commandments in English.
1537 - Bishops book - Laid down Christian Orthodoxy.
1538 - First set of Royal Injunctions - changes in the universities. The study of canon law was suppressed.

How significant was the role of the Church before the Reformation?

There are two main interpretations of the state of the Catholic Church in England before the reformation:

1) People were content with the state of the English Church before the Reformation, although their faith is often accused of being shallow and uninterested. However, there is little doubt that people were enthusiastic about and happy to follow traditional practices that had been used in English religion for centuries.

2) The Church was in danger already: even before Henry VIII split with Rome, changes had been made in English religion. It has been argued that although the Church looked good on the surface, there were already serious problems.

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