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__NOTOC__{{Infobox_Contents | topic_name ==Synopsis== The English Reformation refers to the series of events in sixteenth century England by which the church in England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.Unlike other reform movements, the English Reformation began by royal influence. Interestingly, [[Henry VIII]] was initially a strong defender of [[Roman Catholicism]], defending the [[papacy]] in his [[1521 AD]] work [[The Defense of the Seven Sacraments]]. For this he was awarded, by [[Pope Leo X]], the title Fidei Defensor (Defender of the Faith). However, the king came into conflict with the papacy when he wished to annul his marriage with [[Catherine of Aragon]], for which he needed papal sanction. Catherine was the aunt of Emperor [[Charles V]], the pope's most significant secular supporter. The ensuing dispute lead to a break from Rome and the declaration of the King of England as head of the English ([[Anglicanism|Anglican]]) Church. England then experienced a period of frenetic reforms, some more radical and others more traditional, under monarchs such as [[Edward VI]] and [[Elizabeth I]], and church leaders such as [[Thomas Cranmer]] and [[William Laud]]. What emerged was a state church that considered itself both "Reformed" and "Catholic" but not "Roman", along with other "unofficial" more radical movements such as the [[Puritanism|Puritans]]. These events were part of the wider religious process of the [[Reformation]], occurring throughout Northern [[Europe]]. subtopics ==Contents== {{topics}}* [[English Reformers Index]] - : [[Henry VIII]] | * [[Thomas Cranmer]] | * [[Edward VI]] | * [[Elizabeth I]]* [[Anglican Communion]] | * [[Church of England]] | * [[39 Articles]] | * [[Book of Common Prayer]]
==Main article==
===[[Henry VIII]] and the Break from Rome===
====Background====
====Break from Rome====
===[[Edward VI]===
===[[Mary I]] and Catholic Restoration===
===[[Elizabeth I]]===
===Emergence of [[Puritanism]]===
===English Civil War== ==Quotes==
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* [[Puritanism]]
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The English Reformation refers to the series of events in sixteenth century England by which the church in England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.
Different opinions have been advanced as to why England adopted a Reformed faith, unlike France, for instance. Some have advanced the view that there was an inevitability about the triumph of the forces of new knowledge and a new sense of autonomy set over-against superstition and corruption; others that it was a matter of chance: Henry VIII died at the wrong time; Mary had no child.
[[Henry VIII]] ascended the English throne in 1509 at the age of 17. He made a dynastic marriage with [[Catherine of Aragon]], widow of his brother Arthur, in June 1509, just before his coronation on Midsummers Day. Unlike his father, who was secretive and conservative, the young Henry appeared to be the epitome of chivalry and sociability, seeking out the company of young men like himself. He was an observant Catholic. Between his young contemporaries and the Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, there was a state of hostility. So long as Wolsey had his ear, Henry's Catholicism was secure: in 1521 he had defended the Catholic Church from [[Martin Luther]]'s accusations of heresy in a book he wrote, probably with considerable help from [[Thomas More]], entitled [[The Defence of the Seven Sacraments]], for which he was awarded the title "Defender of the Faith" (Fidei Defensor) by [[Pope Leo X]]. However, Wolsey's enemies at court included those who had been influenced by [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] ideas among whom was the attractive [[Anne Boleyn]]
Anne arrived at court in 1522, from years in Europe, as maid-of-honour to Queen Catherine. By the late 1520s, Henry wanted to have his [[marriage]] to Catherine annulled. She had not produced a male heir who survived into adulthood and Henry wanted a son to secure the Tudor dynasty. Before Henry's father Henry VII ascended the throne, England had been beset by civil warfare over rival claims to the English crown and Henry wanted to avoid a similar uncertainty over the succession. Catherine's only surviving child was Princess Mary. Henry claimed that this lack of a male heir was because his marriage was "blighted in the eyes of God". Catherine had been his late brother's wife, and it was therefore against biblical teachings for Henry to have married her ([[Leviticus 20:21]]); a special dispensation from [[Pope Julius II]] had been needed to allow the wedding in the first place. Henry argued that this had been wrong and that his marriage had never been valid. In 1527 Henry asked [[Pope Clement VII]] to annul the marriage, but the [[Pope]] refused. According to [[Canon Law]] the Pope cannot annul a marriage on the basis of a canonical impediment previously dispensed. Clement also feared the wrath of Catherine's nephew, [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Charles V]], whose troops earlier that year had sacked [[Rome]] and briefly taken the Pope prisoner.
It was during the reign of Elizabeth that England saw the emergence of [[Puritanism]]. Elizabethan Puritanism encompassed those Protestants who, whilst they agreed that there should be one national church, felt that the church had been but partially reformed. Puritanism ranged from hostility to the content of the [[Book of Common Prayer|Prayer Book]] and "popish" ceremony to a desire for church governance to be radically reformed. Grindal was made [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] in 1575 and chose to oppose even the Queen in his desire to forward the Puritans' agenda. 'Bear with me, I beseech you Madam, if I choose rather to offend your earthly majesty than to offend the heavenly majesty of God', he ended a 6,000 word reproach to her. He was placed under house arrest for his trouble and though he was not deprived, his death in 1583 put an end to the hopes of his supporters. His successor, [[Archbishop Whitgift]] more reflected the Queen's determination to discipline those who were unprepared to accept her.
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