The English Reformation to Counter-Reformation
This period is one of the most well know, most studied and most argued over periods of British history. It is also one of the most crucial as it was played out against the back drop of a ferocious battle for the soul of Christendom. At its most basic level the Reformation was about whether one would spend eternity as one of the saved in heaven with God or as one of damned in Hell with Satan. This dichotomy was of paramount importance to the people of Early Modern Europe and Britain which is why the Reformation was so bitterly fought over.
- The Reformation, famously, started in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on a church door in Wittenberg. However there were already on-going reforming currents in late medieval religion. Despite these Luther's attack on Indulgences in the Church was the start of a movement that would spread inexorably.
- In Britain Henry VIII was, initially, a fierce defender of the Church wining him the title of Fidei Defensor from the Pope for his attack on the works of Martin Luther. This changed with the continued problems he was having with his 'Great Matter'. This was the fact he was without an heir.
- It was this intractable issue that led to the English Reformation. This was a Magisterial Reformation led by the King and not driven by popular faith. The 1534 Act of Supremacy confirmed Henry VIII as Head of the Church of England. For the remainder of his reign, till 1547, he dabbled in various changes to religion in England. This varied from the Protestant Act of Ten Articles (1536) and the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536-39) to the more Catholic Act of Six Articles (1539).
- However once Henry VIII died in 1547 his treasured son Edward succeeded him. Edward VI was more avowedly Protestant and began a major programme of reform. The Book of Common Prayer (issued in both 1549 and 1552) pushed Protestanism further forward than it had ever been in England. However Edward VI died in 1553 without being able to fully implement his reforms. His staunchly Catholic half-sister Mary inherited throne, again throwing England into religious turmoil.
- Mary I (1553-1558) was determined to reverse the changes of Edwards reign. Initially these occurred without much opposition. However there were a number of events that changed this situation. Firstly her marriage to Phillip I of Spain, leader of the Counter-Reformation in Europe, caused friction and fear that England would become a Spanish satellite. Secondly she lost Calais in 1556, the last English possession in France. This caused much distress for Mary and the country. Finally she started burning Protestants who opposed her Catholic Reformation. In total 280 men and women were burnt for their beliefs. It is this that cemented Mary's position in history as 'Bloody Mary'. She died in 1558, with 'Calais in her heart' and the throne passed to her half-sister, Elizabeth. It would fall to her to settle the religious divisions in the country.
Selected Further Reading
Dickens, A.G., The English Reformation, 2nd rev. ed. (Batsford 1991)
Duffy, Eamon, The Stripping of the Altars, (Yale 1994)
Duffy, Eamon, The Voices of Morebath, (Yale 2001)
Haigh, Christopher, The English Reformation Revised, (Cambridge 1987)
Elton, G.R., Reform and Reformation: England 1509-1558, (Arnold 1977)
MacCullouch, Diarmaid, Tudor Church Militant, (Allan Lane 2000)
Scarisbrick, J.J., The Reformation and the English People, (Blackwell 1995)
Dickens, A.G., The English Reformation, 2nd rev. ed. (Batsford 1991)
Duffy, Eamon, The Stripping of the Altars, (Yale 1994)
Duffy, Eamon, The Voices of Morebath, (Yale 2001)
Haigh, Christopher, The English Reformation Revised, (Cambridge 1987)
Elton, G.R., Reform and Reformation: England 1509-1558, (Arnold 1977)
MacCullouch, Diarmaid, Tudor Church Militant, (Allan Lane 2000)
Scarisbrick, J.J., The Reformation and the English People, (Blackwell 1995)