Religion in Edward's Reign

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What were Edwards own religious beliefs?

From the beginning of his reign, there was an expectation that Edward would advance the cause of Protestantism

At his coronation,Archbishop Cramner compared Edward to biblical child-king Josiah

Edward clearly being heavily steered towards a Protestant direction

Evidence related to Kings religion

Miles Coverdale, the translator of the Great bible, became bishop of Exeter& Kings Chaplain

Just 5% of Edwards Chronicle is devoted to religion- not that concerned by religion

Enjoyed long complicated sermons and scribbled Greek notes

20 out of 22 royal preachers were reforming bishops or evangelical preachers

April 1550, Spanish Ambassador reported that all those around King were advanced Protestants

Easter 1547-Compline sung in English to support Protestantism

Vast amount of people close to the King were protestant, this included Catherine Parr, Archbishop Cramner, Tutor Richard Coxe

Edward held in high esteem by leading reformers

How did Religion change in reign of Edward VI?

Phase 1- Destroying Catholicism

1547 Royal Visitation- Comissioners sent to bishoprics to examine state of the clergy, doctrine and practice of the church

1547 Book of Homilies and Paraphrases- should be placed in every church And contained Protestant sermons written by Cramer. Were in every church by end of 1549

1547 Royal Injuctions - orders given for all clergy to preach in English, have English bible, Protestant literature in every church

1547 Chantries Act- contained new crucial preamble condemning all prayers for the dead

1547- Act of Six Articles repealed- left church without an official doctrine

1547 - Treason Act Repealed- Act removed old heresy, treason, censorship and proclamation laws- people were able to discuss religion freely. Ultimately, this led to radical protestants using the opportunity to spread their views and destroy catholic images and altars. Government no power over

Phase 2- Confusion

1548- Government issues series of proclamations issued to dampen Proclamation unrest. This was to assert that transubstantiation was in force and catholic rites still needed be adhered to

11th February 1548- Images were to be removed from churches- little opposition to this

24th April 1548- Proclamation which stated only authorised clergy could preach- felt this was necessary due to the flood of unauthorised Protestant preachers that followed the repeal of treason act.

23 September 1548- Proclamation stated no preaching until new liturgy introduced - showed that government felt that the situation was slipping out of control

Phase 3- Formative

December 1548- First Prayer Book- manual written by Cramner which outlined the liturgy to followed in services

January 1549- Act of Uniformity- made Book of Common Prayer the official liturgy- effective enforced apart from pockets of resistance- shown through western rebellion

November 1549- Parliament removed all laws against clerical marraige

December 1549- Proclamation issued ordering the destruction of remainder of images

January 1550-New formed ordinal- detailed ceremony to be followed when clergy were ordained

November 1550- Removal of stone altars- replace with wooden

January 1552- New Treason Act- made it an offence to question royal supremacy

Phase 4- Completion

January 1552- Second Book of Common Prayer- Highly Protestant document, removed all traces of Catholicism and established a Eucharist ceremony in line with Calvin's spiritual presence, prayers for dead removed and wearing of vestments removed

April 1552- Second Act of Uniformity- enforced Second Book of Common Prayer, making it an offence for both clergy and laity not to attend Church of England service

November 1552- Black Rubric Proclamation- explained that kneeling to receive communion was sake of order- Edward got involved in this debate

November 1552- 42 Articles submitted- never become parliamentary law- Articles strongly protestant

1553 Short Catechism was produced- manual for teaching the main belief of the church- Luther and Calvin produced Catechisms

Ending Prayers for the dead was very important

Possibly the most shattering and irreversible action of the reformation in England

Catholics believed that prayers after they died would help their souls in purgatory, without prayer, Catholics soul and salvation in peril

Dissolved 3,000 chantries - affected people as the chantries played integral role in the lives of many local communites

Confraternities- like a poor mans chantry- demise didn't concern government but would have missed by thousand of people who played active part in them

First Book of Common Prayer

Unvelied in December 1548, law by Act of Uniformity in 1549

Document where Cramner outlined what he thought would be politically acceptable- not what he believed

Satifised very few people- Catholics saw it as implicitly Protestant and for Protestants too much popery

In the prayer book, the liturgy was outlined which was to be used in church services

This includes, services in English, sacraments, communion both kinds, clerical marriage allowed, purgatory, no prayers for the dead, discouragement of worship saints, traditional robes in the church, transubstantiation, fast and holy days remained

Second Book of Common Prayer

Represents further swing towards Protestantism

Cramner most probably satisfied

It clearly established an Eucharist ceremony in line with Calvin's belief

Eucharist now called Lords Supper; communicants were to kneel

Traditional robes weren't to be worn

Altars replaced by communion table

Sign of cross abolished in the confirmation

Driving Force in Religion changes

Edward VI

Not able to play a prominent a role in the religious change of his reign

Edward was a religious force to be noticed

At age 13, deeply embroiled in most important religious change of his reign, Second Prayer Book

Edward wasnt happy with the moderate First Book of Common Prayer

involved in parliamentary legislation behind Second Act of Uniformity

Edward determined to make everybody attend Protestant services

Edward driving persecution of his Catholic sister Mary

Decisive shift was in 1550-1551 when Northumberland took more interest in Edwards views

Attended Privy Council meetings at which important religious chances

Favoured and encouraged radical refromers

Northumberland pursued a radical religious policy that would of liking of Edward

Somerset

Advanced Protestant

Due to problems of maintaining uniformity and order- pursued wavering path towards religious change

Catholic Act of Six Articles repealed, images destroyed, and communion encouraged

Forced by domestic and foreign policy constraints, constrained by fear of Charles V, rebellions of 1549, and concern over war against Scotland

Initial associations with leading reformers

Moderate enforcement of Protestantism lost him approval from radical protestants

Erasitan Protestant

Only introduce religious changes when political situation made it possible

Northumberland

-Several times in life declared himself a Catholic

-While head of government the religious pendulum swung decisively towards Protestantism

-Above all Northumberland was a politician- religion took second place to search for power

-by moving towards Protestantism Northumberland would have benefitted in the form of:

-increasing his bond of affection with and the influence he had over Edward VI

-judged that religious future layed with evangelical Protestants which was supported by the apppoinment of radicals

-power and money by stripping Catholic church

-Protestantism lent itself to social control

Cramner

- Became towering spritutal figure in English Reformation- despite his reluctance

- His pen which drafted the Prayer Books and 42 Articles

Judged what position Church should take on key issues

His influence was due to his ability to make policies work

Under Edward was able to edge towards his own theological position

Able to achieve full Protestant position wit Second Book of Prayers

Always recognised the royal supremacy

Influenced by foreign reformers

If reformation was to spread, quality and quantity of preachers had to be an essential tool

Pockets of Protestantism were fostered by effective preachers in London, East Anglia and Newcastle

Ports filled with Protestantism too

Lack of preachers overall was the greatest problem faced by nationwide reformation

Under Somerset, more Catholic bishops- 10, to nine reformers

Under Northumberland active reformers were appointed to sees which included London, Gloucester,Rochester, Chichester, Norwich, Exeter, Worcester and Durham

Protestant bishops not guaranteed of effective clergy

Out of 311 Clergy, ten couldn't recite the Lords Prayer and 171 couldn't repeat the ten commandments

John Hooper

Leader of Evangelical Protestants

Wanted to sweep away all remainders of Catholicism

Man of enormous energy and commitment

He spearheaded the push towards radical Protestantism

Gained favour of Edward and Northumberland

Clashed with other Protestants

European Reformers

Between 1547- 1553-40 of Europes Reformers came to reside in England

Provided ideas and preaching talent to Reformation in England

Put pressure on for a move towards Protestantism

Second Book of Prayers influenced by Bucers criticisms of the first

Cramner close correspondence with Melancthon, leader of Lutheransim

Edward warmly welcomed reformed

Lack of opposition

Notable for its lack of opposition and virtual absence of persecution

Didnt mean there was positive enthusiasm present

Only serious resistance was Western rebellion, which was supressed

Two high profile reformers were Stephen Gardiner and Edmund Bonner

Both deprived of bishoprics and replaced by reformers

Greed

Last three years attention was turned towards extracting the remaining wealth of the church

1552- survey of bishops and all clergy worth more than 50 pound

1553 Northumberland attack untapped 1,087,978 church resources

Not put into effect due to Edwards death but:

Northumberland ordered plate, vestment and other objects expropriation, not enough time to complete the collection and sell/melt down the metals

Move very far towards Protestantism

Somerset as Protector- last vestiges of Catholicism swept away

As Lord President of the Council, Northumberland overseen the creation of the doctrine of a fully reformed church

Cramner and Edward there whole time