Pre Reformation Art Only Available to the Church and the Wealthy

The Reformation was a period of major religious change and conflict beyond Europe in the 1500s. In this topic, nosotros explore how the Reformation happened in England and Wales nether the Tudors. The manufactures explain the part of the monarch and Parliament, how both Protestant and Catholic MPs coped with and influenced these changes, and how different constituencies (local communities) responded to the upheaval. Beneath, nosotros give a brief introduction to the Reformation. For a shorter version of this introduction, see 'The Reformation: Short Overview'

one. Introduction
2. The medieval Catholic church
3. Protestant challenge
4. Protestants and Catholics
5. Reformation in England
6. Henry VIII and his divorce
7. Henry'due south children

ane. Introduction

At the starting time of the 16^th Century, England was an entirely Christian country. The church governed how people lived their lives and how they understood the world. All major life occasions – nascence, marriage and expiry – happened in the church. Information technology governed people's social lives, punished moral wrongdoings, and even marked the passing year with a agenda of festivals. Changes in the church had a political, economic and social bear on – every bit well equally a religious one.

2. The medieval Catholic church

Before the Reformation, all Christians living in Western Europe were part of the Roman Cosmic Church. This was led by the Pope, based in Rome. The Church building was extremely rich and powerful.

15th Century Manuscript, Additional 25588 f. 109v

© The British Library (Illuminated manuscripts)

In church, services were held in Latin. Most ordinary people could non read, and then Bible stories were told in beautiful images and stained glass windows, or in 'mystery plays' on special holidays, like those held in Coventry. People travelled for miles to places of pilgrimage, to pray to saints for help in their lives. Many of these places had relics, which were preserved parts of saints' bodies. People believed visiting these relics and praying to saints would lead to miracles or heal them from disease.

For many years historians believed that lots of people in England and Wales were unhappy with the Catholic church earlier the Reformation. Nonetheless, now they believe that although there were some problems, the church was very popular. The church was extremely wealthy. For centuries people had donated land and money to information technology. With this money it built religious houses (for example, monasteries and convents). They were not but homes for monks and nuns, but likewise schools and hospitals. They gave charity to the poor. Some were important centres of learning with big libraries.

3. Protestant challenge

There had ever been people who had complained virtually the Catholic Church. But in the early 16^thursday century, the criticism became stronger. There were reports that priests, monks and nuns did not behave as well as they should. Some felt that the Catholic Church was more interested in coin and ability than in saving souls. For example, the church building sold 'indulgences' for those who had committed sins. For a fine, paid to the church, your sin would be forgiven and when you died, the Church said that y'all would go to heaven. Fifty-fifty sins similar murder could be forgiven, and the church made plenty of money through this.

In 1517, the German priest Martin Luther attacked this practice as corrupt – nothing in the Bible said that you lot could buy forgiveness and information technology was incorrect to let rich people purchase their way into heaven. Protestantism was born. Around the same time, the development of the press press meant that books and pamphlets could be produced quickly and cheaply. Luther's ideas spread across Europe.

4. Protestants and Catholics

In that location were many differences between Protestants and Catholics. These are three major ones:

i) Protestants believed that you could not purchase your way to sky and opposed the sale of indulgences. They felt that the church was corrupt. They also attacked the 'cult of saints' – they argued that relics were fakes which could not cure illness or perform miracles. They believed that the Catholic Church but used them to make money.

ii) The Cosmic Church building believed that stories and images could be used to assist people empathise their religion. They were supporters of mystery plays and entertainment, for religious celebration. The Protestants particularly the later Puritans were opposed to all forms of religious entertainment and religious celebration.

Thomas Becket Window, Chartres Cathedral, France

© Art History Images

iii) In the Cosmic Church, services were in Latin. This meant that just a few people could read the Bible or sympathise fully what happened in church building. Protestants believed that anybody should have the take chances to read the Bible, and anybody should sympathize religious services. They called for Bibles to be printed in the languages of ordinary people, like English or Welsh, and for services in these languages.

5. Reformation in England

Protestant ideas arrived in England during Henry 8'due south reign through links with Europe, through trade or politics. The start English Bibles began to appear. However, Henry condemned Protestant beliefs and, where he could, destroyed copies of the English Bible. For his defence of Cosmic ideas, the Pope named him the 'Defender of the Faith'. Everything changed in the belatedly 1520s when Henry wanted a divorce.

half dozen. Henry VIII and his divorce

Henry 8 (afterward Holbein)

© Victoria Fine art Gallery, Bath (via VADS)

For many years Henry 8 had been married to the Spanish Princess, Catherine of Aragon. They had many children but merely one kid survived. That was their daughter, Mary. Henry was desperate to have a son to inherit his throne, and unfortunately Catherine could no longer have children. Henry was as well in dearest with an English courtier, Anne Boleyn. He was determined to divorce Catherine, marry Anne, and have a son with her.

Henry had to ask the Pope to requite him a divorce, and sent his primary minister, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, to suit information technology. Unfortunately, Catherine had no intention of being divorced. She had some powerful relatives, including the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles 5, who put pressure level on the Pope equally well as Henry and Wolsey. The Pope dithered and refused to make a decision.

Henry decided to take matters into his own hands. Using laws passed in the Reformation Parliament, he alleged himself Supreme Head of the church in England, and granted his own divorce. He likewise needed money. With his new principal minister, Thomas Cromwell, he decided that the church was corrupt and decided to dissolve (close down) the religious houses (monasteries, convents etc). Their riches were given to Henry. The Pope condemned Henry'due south deportment, but could not stop him. The church building lost most of its wealth in England and all of its independence.

Some Protestant ideas arrived – Henry approved the first official English Bible. However, he did not agree with many Protestant behavior (other than the ones which fabricated him rich and Supreme Head of the church!) Very picayune changed in how religion was practiced in most churches. But under his children, Edward Half-dozen, Mary I and Elizabeth I, the Church changed constantly.

7. Henry's children

Edward VI, Mary I and Eliz I by Richard Burchett © Palace of Westminster WOA 1017 and 1014

Henry's three children held very different beliefs.

- Edward 6, a young boy when he inherited the throne, governed with the help of a Lord Protector. His mother was Henry's third wife, Jane Seymour, who had died as a result of Edward's birth.  He was a committed Protestant, and inverse many practices in the English church building – for example, all services were held in English language, and images were removed from churches.

- Mary I was a committed Catholic, and returned the English language church to Catholicism. Many historians now believe this was popular in many parts of England and Wales. Notwithstanding, she could not return all the church building'due south lands. She is remembered for burning hundreds of Protestant martyrs at the stake for their beliefs.

- Elizabeth I was a Protestant, simply overwhelmingly wanted compromise. Her religious settlement created a church which had services in English, merely kept some Catholic practices like church music. Elizabeth was the Supreme Governor, and the Pope had no say. It was during her long reign (over forty years) that nigh people in England and Wales became Protestants. Nevertheless, Elizabeth faced pressure from people who thought her church was too Protestant, simply also from those who thought it was not Protestant enough!

In the Parliament section, yous will detect information about the religious laws passed by these monarchs. In the MPs department, there are biographies of MPs with unlike religious beliefs to see the Reformation from dissimilar viewpoints. In the Constituencies section, you tin learn how these new laws, ideas and beliefs changed ordinary communities.

The Reformation was a complicated and long process, but it inverse England and Wales forever. Elizabeth's church is still the ground of today's Church building of England.

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Source: https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/schools/ks3/reformation

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