More Reformations! The Church of England

Henry viii The English Reformation was rooted in politics, not religion King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon (only had a daughter, Mary, but no son and needed a male heir) Wanted to marry Anne Boleyn instead Frustrated that the pope would not annul (declare invalid) his marriage to Catherine of Aragon Turned to England’s own church courts

Marriage to anne boleyn In May 1533, Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer ruled Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine “null and void” The next month, Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen Three months later, a child was born (odd timing, eh?! wink, wink, nudge nudge) Only had 1 girl, who would later become Queen Elizabeth I STOP & JOT: What do you think happened? Why was he in a rush to get an annulment?

The church of England In 1534, Henry’s request, Parliament finalized break with Catholic Church in England with the pope in Rome Act of Supremacy declared that the King was “taken, accepted, and reputed the only supreme head on earth of the [new] Church of England” This gave the King control over religious doctrine, clerical appointments, and discipline For example, Sir Thomas More a Christian humanist and devout Catholic strongly opposed the king’s actions and was beheaded as a result STOP & JOT: What does this remind you of? How is Henry VIII gaining and maintaining power?

Church & Government Henry used new powers to dissolve monasteries and sell Church land and possessions to wealthy landowners and merchants Religiously, Henry VIII disagreed with Luther’s teachings and remained close with Catholic doctrine STOP & JOT: Why do you think Henry VIII chose to take England in a Protestant direction if he still agreed with and believed in Catholicism?

Anglican church When Henry VIII died in 1547, Edward, the son of his third wife took the throne Since Edward VI was only nine and very sick, church officials moved the C.of E. or Anglican Church in a Protestant direction Gave clergy the right to marry Created new Protestant services to replace Catholic ones Rapid changes aroused much opposition. STOP & JOT: What do you think might happen next?

Bloody Mary In 1553, Mary, Henry’s daughter by Catherine of Aragon, came to the throne and wanted to restore England to traditional Roman Catholicism She became very violent and ruthless in doing so Had more than 300 Protestants burned as heretics, earning her the nickname “Bloody Mary” Her extreme policies had the opposite effect. By the end of her reign, England was more Protestant than it had ever been before