Merriman Teacher Notes 26 Summer 2023 PDF

# The English Reformation The English Reformation began as a struggle between the King and the Church. The persistence of Lollards in France was a lower study of High Clergy and their resentment of the wealth and authority of the clergy in general. William Tyndale, a follower of Luther, published t...

# The English Reformation The English Reformation began as a struggle between the King and the Church. The persistence of Lollards in France was a lower study of High Clergy and their resentment of the wealth and authority of the clergy in general. William Tyndale, a follower of Luther, published the first English New Testament in 1530. Henry VIII had Tyndale burned at the stake for heresy. ## Henry VIII and the Break with Rome Henry VIII was a religious conservative who, in 1521, published a book *De Vera Fide* (*On the True Faith*) that was a defense of the RC Church and a view of sacraments. The Pope gave Henry VIII the title "Defender of the Faith". But more would not give Henry VIII an annulment to his marriage. <br> In 1533, HenryVIII secretly married Anne Boleyn - who had become the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer - and the *Act of Succession* was passed in 1534 by Parliament. These events led to a declaration that the Pope was not the head of the English Church, which was now fairly autonomous, and the King could appoint bishops. <br> Henry VIII wanted a legitimate son, but he was unable to produce one with Queen Catherine of Aragon, with whom he had only one daughter, Mary. He tried to get the Pope to annul his marriage so he could marry Anne Boleyn. However, he claimed the English Church had the power to grant the annulment and not only the Pope. The Pope refused to annul the marriage since Charles V - who was Catherine's nephew and held the Pope - was opposed. In 1529, the English Lord Chancellor, Thomas Wolsey, opened formal Church proceedings to hear the Pope's case. Henry VIII then ordered the case to be transferred to Rome. He blamed Wolsey, took his power and wealth away, and Wolsey died on his way to trial in 1530. For treason, Henry VIII made Thomas More the new Chancellor. ## The Church The King was the head of the English Church. All were expected to take an oath to the King. ## The Break with Rome ### Act of Supremacy (1534) * Proclaimed the King supreme head of the Church of England. * Parliament limited the fees that the clergy could charge and forbade bishops from living away from their sees (areas they held). * Clergy were under civil law. ### Church of England under Henry VIII The Church of England was pretty much identical to the Roman Catholic Church in doctrine. * **Ten Articles (1536):** Salvation by faith alone (good works are advised). * **Sacraments (Baptism, Communion, Penance):** Purgatory was rejected. * **Transubstantiation and Celibacy of clergy:** Kept. ## After the Break with Rome * **The Catholic Reformation:** * Response to the Protestant's success. * Reasserted the Pope's authority. * Strengthened RCC organization. * Retreat to Dogmatism. * **1536: ** Pope Paul III created a commission to look into Catholic reforms. This commission pointed out the lack of education amongst the clergy, the large number of bishops, and the places they never visited. * **1542: ** Pope Paul III set up the Inquisition in Rome. * **1542: ** Henry VIII had Catherine Howard executed for treason. * **1547:** Henry VIII died. * **Henry VIII** abolished abbeys and monasteries. * **Thomas Cromwell** oversaw their dissolution. * **2/3** were sold within 10 years (most were bought by nobles). * **Doubled** royal revenue. * **1559:** Pope Paul IV set up the *Index of Banned Books*. * **Papal censorship** * **Jews** were forced to live in specific areas, like the Venetian Ghetto. * **1555:** Pope Paul IV was guilty of killing the Jews.