Religious Reformation Policies

Thomas Cromwell Chief Minister To Henry VIII

1532

1532 - 1540

Thomas Cranmer - Archbishop of Canterbury

1533

Act of First Fruits and Tenths + Act of Supremacy

1534

Valor Ecclesiasticus

1535

Revealed how wealthy the religious institutions were and it was discovered that the income of monasteries was 3 times that of the royal estate therefore had the potential to double the crown's income.

Cromwell's Survey

1535

Cromwell's survey discovered that corruption and abuses were more common in smaller monasteries, this was an excuse to close them - moral depravity.
(This occurred at the same time as the Valor Ecclesiasticus)

Cromwell's Visitations

1535

Cromwell organised visitation to investigate the moral and spiritual standards of religious institutes.

Ten Articles 1536

1536

Brief statement of the Church's belief only involved 3 out of the seven sacraments of Catholicism (Baptism, Eucharist and Penance).
- Faced with strong opposition from a group of Conservative bishops

Cromwell's 1st set of Injunctions 1536

1536

Cromwell created instructions to those in positions of authority within the Church to ensure that certain practices ceased to exist and others were followed
- vague and generally ignored

Act for the Dissolution of Smaller Monasteries

1536

Monasteries and religious institutions which had an income of less than £200 per year were to be closed

Pilgrimage of Grace 1536-1537

1536

Mainly in the North of England - an area which was less exposed to new religious ideas due to their lack of trade and links with Europe. Time period consisted of a series of uprisings against the religious change.

Lincolnshire Uprising

1536

Lasted 16 days and was led by well-to-do landowners not just the peasantry meaning it was a more threatening uprising than usual.
- 40,000 Lincolnshire responded to call to arms
- Rebel army generally well-armed and disciplined
Wanted Henry to reverse his unpopular policies therefore dispersed immediately after the offer that their demands will be considered was made.

Yorkshire Rising

Oct 24, 1536

High quality leadership - Robert Aske
'The Oath of Honourable Men' - attempt to avoid treachery
Ask coined and popularised term 'Pilgrimage of Grace'
Wanted to persuade Henry to abandon his attacks on the Church and return to loyalty to Rome.
'Pilgrimage of Grace' had turned into a particularly threatening uprising.
- Pontrefact Castle (Lord Thomas Darcy)
- Duke of Norfolk
- December 24 separate articles (Reversal of political + rel. change, return to freely elected Parliaments) Execution

Bible's Accessibility 1537

1537

Within two years every Parish Church was obliged to posses a copy of a Bible in English which must be accessible for everyone to read

Bishops Book 1537

1537

Four 'lost' sacraments were 'found' but clearly stated that they were less important than the others
Development of the Ten articles

Cromwell's 2nd set of Injunctions 1538

1538

More detailed instructions which were more effective than the first
More reformist (in a Protestant direction)

Act of Six Articles 1539

1539

Confirmed transubstantiation, private masses, auricular confessions whilst banning the marriage of priests and any others who had taken a vow of chastity.

The Great Bible 1539

1539

Bible in English

Act for the Dissolution of Larger Monasteries

1539

Act in Parliament - no challenge to King

1539

Act in Parliament that meant that no challenges to the validity of the King's title to the possessions allowed in court
(Surrendering of monastic property)

Henry's Death

1547