1. Commemoration of the Reformation Resource 2
What was it all about????
Why did it happen????
Who was involved????

2. The Reformation
October 31st 2017 is a significant day in the history of the Christian Church. On this day, 500 years ago, historians agree that the movement called The Reformation began. What was THE REFORMATION?

3. What was The Reformation?
The Reformation was a religious movement that split the Catholic Church in Europe.
It set in place structures and beliefs that would spread around the world and change the Christian Church right up until the present day.

4. What Caused The Reformation?
The causes of the Reformation go back to the 12th century
People were angry at the way some of the leaders – priests and bishops - of the Church lived
The Church was in need of reform but some of its leaders didn’t want to change and lose their power and riches

5. Causes of the Reformation 1
Some leaders of the 15th century Church led immoral lives
In the early 1400s there were 3 Popes at the one time and people thought that the Church was too tied up in political matters and even warfare
Some Popes, cardinals and bishops were living like rich lords

6. Causes of the Reformation 2
Some clergy sold indulgences to people telling them this would get them into heaven quicker
Some men could buy positions in the Church
Some untrained men were being ordained as priests
Some men became priests because of greed, or ambition or power rather than for love of Jesus

7. The Reformation
The Reformation - also called the Protestant Reformation – was a split from the Catholic Church by certain people who called themselves ‘Reformers’
Some of the main protesters were:
Martin Luther - a German Catholic monk
Ulrich Zwingli - a Swiss priest
Jean (John) Calvin - a French lawyer
Henry VIII - the King of England

8. Who?? - The Main Players By this action he is credited with starting
Martin Luther ( ) was a German professor, theologian and Augustinian Catholic monk He had concerns about certain Church practices.
In October 1517 he arrived at the front door of the castle church in the city of Wittenberg and nailed up a list of 95 points he wanted to discuss. His ‘95 Theses’
By this action he is credited with starting
the Protestant Reformation

9. The Catholic Church and The Reformation
Luther also stated that the Bible was the only source of revealed knowledge from God
Many people read Luther’s Theses and joined in the protest for changes in the Church
Those who followed Luther’s teachings were called Lutherans
Luther was excommunicated from the Church by the Pope in because of his teachings

10. Huldrych (Ulrich) Zwingli
Ulrich Zwingli ( ) – priest and leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. In his ideas of reform he:
Challenged the Catholic Church on the teaching and organisation of the Church
Rejected all authority of bishops
Opposed all religious images including crucifixes
Introduced a new liturgy to replace the Mass
Promoted marriage of priests
Denied the Real Presence in the Eucharist resulting in a more drastic break with the Christian tradition than Luther’s

11. Huldrych (Ulrich) Zwingli
Zwingli disagreed with Luther about some of his teachings and so began his own church
Zurich was soon converted to Zwingli’s reforms
Monasteries were dissolved and money used to fund education and poor relief
Zwingli’s church attempted to control moral behaviour - strict supervision became common
True Christians must follow the Bible as closely as possible
Zwingli preached religious war against surrounding cantons that were Catholic
He was killed in the Battle of Kappel in 1531

12. The Eucharist to be limited to 4 Sundays a year
JEAN (john) Calvin
Jean (John) Calvin, a Frenchman, ( ) is widely credited as the most important figure in the second generation of the Reformation.
He wanted to achieve a rebuilding of the Church by abolishing:
crucifixes, images, altars, liturgical garments, the Mass, the organ, singing in church, processions, relics and sacraments
The Eucharist to be limited to Sundays a year

13. The Reformation
The Reformation protests spread throughout many countries in Europe and also to England
But the changes in England were for political reasons, rather than for religious ones………
Crown of Henry VIII of England.

14. Prayer for Christian unity
Let us pray for the unity of Christians Lord Jesus Christ, at your Last Supper you prayed to the Father that all should be one. Bring down your Holy Spirit upon all of us, your Christian followers, to lead us that we may serve you in unity. Strengthen our faith in you and help us to love one another as you love us. 14

15. Prayer for Christian unity
We pray that God, our Creator, will strengthen us, Jesus, our gracious Saviour, will guide us, and that the love of the Holy Spirit will remain in our hearts, working through us, so that all Christians may grow in understanding and peace. We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 15