Henry VIII - Religion

William Tyndale's vernacular bible is burnt

May 1, 1530

Attack on heresy against Catholicism

The whole of the clergy is accused of praemunire

Dec 1, 1530

This attacked the power of the Catholic Church to exercise power through ecclesiastical courts in England

Clergy is pardoned of the praemunire charge

Feb 1, 1531

Henry was paid a fine of £119,000 in return for his pardon

Convocation of Canterbury recognised Henry as Head of the Church 'so far as the law of Christ allows'

Feb 1, 1531

This marked how far the church was willing to go in allowing Henry more power

First Act of Annates

1532

This banned the payment of Annates to Rome. It also threatened that bishops could be consecrated be English authorities. Thus, the chief source of Papal revenue in England was removed and one of the Pope's main functions as the leader of the Church was challenged.

Supplication of the Ordinaries

Mar 1, 1532

• Clergy were to enact no church law without royal permission -Existing Church law was to be examined by a royal commission
• Henry complained that the clergy only gave him 50% loyalty as they owed allegience to the Pope

Submission of the Clergy

May 16, 1532

The clergy accepted the King and not the Pope as their lawmaker- Thomas More resigned the following day

Act in Restraint of Appeals to Rome

Feb 1, 1533

Based on the Collectanea Satis Copiosa - this began the work of transferring Papal powers to the King
-Henry was now supreme Head of the Church in England
-Rome had no power to rule over matrimonial cases - Cranmer declared Henry's marriage to Catherine as null and void
- Henry's marriage to Anne was declared valid

Second Act of Annates

Jan 1, 1534

This confirmed the First Act of Annates
Bishops and Abbots were now to be appointed by the King and not the Pope

Act to stop Peter's Pence

Jan 1, 1534

This abolished the payment of taxation to Rome

Act for the Submission of the Clergy

Mar 1, 1534

Appeals in ecclesiastical matters were now to be handled by the King's Court of Chancery and not by the Archbishop's court

First Act of Succession

Mar 1, 1534

This registered Henry's marriage to Catherine as invalid and replaced it with his marriage to Anne
The crown was now to pass to Henry and Anne's children
The nation was to take an oath upholding their marriage

Execution of Elizabeth Barton 'Holy Maid of Kent'

Apr 1, 1534

Showed Henry's lack of toleration for religious diversity

Act of Supremecy

Nov 1, 1534

Henry is justly and rightly the Supreme Head of the Church of England. He is given the right to carry out visitations of the monasteries.

Treason Act

Dec 1, 1534

Listed key treasonable crimes such as calling the King or Queen a heretic and treason could now be defined as intent expressed in word as well in deed

Act for First Fruits and Tenths

Dec 1, 1534

These clerical taxes would now go to the King and not the Pope

Cromwell is made Vice-gerent in Spirituals

Jan 1, 1535

Evidence of a swing to reformist influence over Henry

Valor Ecclesiasticus

Jan 1, 1535

Cromwell commissioned this survey into the wealth and condition of the Church

Execution of Carthusian monks

May 1, 1535

From May 1935 and August 1540- about 18 Carthusian monks were executed for refusing to accept Henry as the Supreme Head of the Church

Execution of Bishop Fisher

Jun 22, 1535

He was executed for treason, for refusing to take the Oath of Succession and accept Henry as the Supreme Head of the Church of England

Sir Thomas More is executed

Jul 6, 1535

Even though he didn't speak out against Henry, he refused to take the Oath of Succession

Act for the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries

Feb 1, 1536

Smaller monasteries (worth less than £200) were shut down

Anne Boleyn is beheaded

May 19, 1536

Henry marries Jane Seymour the following day

Act of Ten Articles

Jul 1, 1536

The Seven Sacraments of Catholic Doctrine were rejected - leaving a belief in only three - baptism, Eucharist and penance. A clear move towards Protestantism.

Royal Injunctions to the Clergy issued by Cromwell

Aug 1, 1536

These ordered the clergy to defend the royal supremacy in sermons, abandon pilgrimages, give money for educational services to help children remember the Lord's Prayer, the 10 commandments and other scripture.

The Institution of a Christian Man, also known as a Bishop's Book

Jul 1, 1537

The four lost sacraments were rediscovered - though stated to be of lesser value. There was other evidence of a drift towards Protestantism which included that there was no discussion of transubstantiation, Mass was glossed over and the special status of priests was understated.

Thomas Matthew published the Matthew bible

Aug 1, 1537

This was a very Protestant version which had the King's permission

Royal Injunctions to the Clergy were issued by Cromwell

Oct 1, 1538

The English bible was to be placed in all parish churches within 2 years, all births, marriages and deaths were to be recorded, people were to be discouraged from pilgrimages and relics were removed from churches

Trial and execution of John Lambert for his rejection of transubstantiation

Nov 1, 1538

This was a clear symbol of Henry's commitment to Catholicism

Henry is excommunicated by Pope Paul III

Dec 1, 1538

Publication of the Great Bible

Apr 1, 1539

Act for the Dissolution of the Greater Monasteries

Jun 1, 1539

All monasteries were closed and their land passed to the Crown

Act of Six Articles

Jun 1, 1539

Marked a shift in doctrine. It confirmed transubstantiation, private mass, the hearing of confession by priests. It banned the marriage of priests, the marriage of anyone who had taken the vow of chastity, the taking of communion of any kind by lay people.

Henry married Anne of Cleves

Jan 1, 1540

She was the sister of the Protestant Duke of Cleves

Cromwell is arrested

Jun 1, 1540

Cromwell is executed

Jul 28, 1540

The Cleves marriage is annuled and Henry married Catherine Howard

Jul 28, 1540

Catherine Howard executed

Feb 13, 1542

Cranmer protected Henry against the Catholic faction

Apr 1, 1543

Act for the Advancement of True Religion

May 1, 1543

This restricted the English bible to upper-class men and noblewomen in private

The Necessary Doctrine and Erudition of a Christian Man

May 1, 1543

This revised the Bishop's book- defending transubstantiation and the Six Articles. It encouraged preaching and attacked the use of images. It was written by Henry.

Henry married Catherine Parr

Jul 1, 1543

English litany introduced to the Churches

May 1, 1544

Replaced the Catholic use of Latin litany, although Priests did not have to use it.

Sir John Cheke appointed as tutor to Edward

Jul 1, 1544

Cheke was a Protestant humanist

Chantries Act passed- though not enforced

Nov 1, 1545

This allowed for the dissolution of the Chantries

Henry named heavily Protestant council of regency for his heir

Jul 1, 1546

This ensured a Protestant-influenced inheritance for Prince Edward

Anne Askew burnt for denying transubstantiation

Jul 1, 1547

Evidence of Henry's commitment to Catholicism