Lesson 1.08 The English Reformation

Introduction

The English Reformation Introduction

Protestant Reformation

In your last lesson, you learned about the Protestant Reformation that took place in the German states with Martin Luther the protestant reformation take place in German states with Martin Luther , in Switzerland with John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli , in Scotland with John Knox , and others as the movement spread to reform the Catholic Church.

Catholic Church

In time, the Catholic Church began its own Counter Reformation, meaning that they realized there were serious problems in their own church, and they sought to correct them. However, the Protestant Reformation had spread so far, that efforts by the Catholic Church to bring back those who had left the church were unsuccessful, and the divisions within the Christian world could not be reversed.

Anti-catholic Painting

Protestant, anti-catholic painting: The pope and the cardinals are standing around an empty document empty document on top of the protestant preacher, the monk and their followers. symbolizing the "empty" words of the pope. Beneath a protestant preacher a protestant preacher stands on the right side followed by farmers is discussing with a catholic monk a catholic monk stands on the left side followed by urban citizens.

King Henry VIII

During the time that Martin Luther and John Calvin were developing their Protestant churches, King Henry VIII was completely opposed to the Protestant Reformation and wrote a book, In Defense of the Seven Sacraments, to defend the Catholic Church against these reformers for which he was granted an honorary title of “Defender of the Faith” for his unwavering support of the church.

Catherine of Aragon

Henry VIII continued his loyal support until his wife, Catherine of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, could not give him a male heir to the throne, and he wanted a divorce so that he could marry a woman who could give him a male child who could succeed him as king.

Henry VIII Takeover

Because the Catholic Church, specifically, Pope Clement VII, would not permit the divorce, through the Act of Supremacy of 1534, Henry VIII made himself the head of the Church of England. Nothing changed about the doctrine or nature of the church so that, in essence, it remained Catholic, except that the Pope was no longer the head of the Church. In addition, Henry took over church properties and possessions and made them his possessions.

henry divorce — The divorce of Henry VIII from Katherine of Aragon, instigated by the Kings desire for a male heir to the throne, was a major catalyst in the break from Rome and the introduction of Protestantism to England. This illustration shows the dramatic moment where, during the Kings petition for divorce before the Papal Legate and Cardinal Wolsey, the Queen enters the courtroom and 'kneeling down in sight of the whole court and assembly at the King's feet and in broken English makes her protest against the divorce, 'I take god and all the world to witness that I have been a true, humble and obedient wife'.

English Reformation

The English Reformation had a bit of a different twist than the Protestant Reformation and Counter Reformation. Henry VIII was not looking for a closer relationship with God or church reform. He simply wanted a male heir to the throne and needed a divorce to get it.

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