Religious Change in the Reign of Edward VI

Summary

In this lecture, Professor Susan Doran discusses the religious transformation of England under Edward VI. She explains the Protestant reforms initiated by his government, including the introduction of Lutheran theology, the abolition of Chantries, and changes to the English liturgy through two prayer books. The reforms led to a dramatic shift in church practices and the removal of religious imagery, reflecting a Protestant influence. Doran explores the political and religious motivations behind these changes, highlighting the role of evangelical figures and the political benefits of reform, despite some opposition and incomplete reforms.

Takeaways

• 😀 Susan Doran is a professor of early modern history at the University of Oxford and a senior research fellow at Jesus College and St. Bennet's Hall.
• 😀 The lecture focuses on the religious policy during the reign of Edward VI in England and the Protestantization of the country.
• 😀 Under Edward VI, England moved toward Protestantism, with significant changes in theology, liturgy, and church aesthetics.
• 😀 Edward VI's government adopted the Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith alone, which was widely accepted by Protestant churches across Europe.
• 😀 The government’s policy led to the abolition of chantries, with the preamble emphasizing the non-existence of purgatory and the superstition of praying for the dead.
• 😀 Two new English prayer books were introduced during Edward VI’s reign, which moved toward Protestantism. These included changes in the mass ceremony.
• 😀 The first prayer book was somewhat ambiguous regarding the corporal presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but the second prayer book (1552) fully embraced a Protestant understanding of the ceremony.
• 😀 The second prayer book clarified that there was no physical presence of Christ in the bread and wine, marking a shift toward the Swiss Reformed tradition over the Lutheran view.
• 😀 A key change was the introduction of the ‘black rubric’, which stated that kneeling during communion was not an act of adoration of Christ’s physical presence.
• 😀 The Edwardian Reformation also included iconoclasm, where statues and crucifixes were destroyed and altars replaced by tables, leading to a more austere church environment.
• 😀 The religious reforms of Edward VI were a result of evangelical ministers and political figures, but these changes were not inevitable, as Henry VIII had no intention of radically reforming the church on his death.
• 😀 The new government under Edward VI, led by Edward Seymour and Archbishop Cranmer, pushed forward with evangelical reforms, despite varying levels of personal commitment to Protestant beliefs.
• 😀 Despite financial and political motivations, key figures such as William Cecil and Thomas Smith genuinely believed in evangelical reform, which shaped the nature of religious policy during Edward VI’s reign.

Q & A

What was the key theological change introduced during Edward VI's reign?

The key theological change introduced was the doctrine of justification by faith alone, a Lutheran belief that rejected the Catholic idea of salvation through works, which became central to English Protestantism.

How did Edward VI's government view the practice of praying for the dead?

Edward VI's government viewed the practice of praying for the dead as superstitious, as stated in the preamble to the Act abolishing Chantries, and rejected the idea of purgatory.

What were the key changes made to the English liturgy under Edward VI?

Two English prayer books were introduced during Edward VI's reign. They included prayers and readings from both the Old and New Testaments, with the most significant change being the shift away from the Catholic mass to a Protestant understanding of the ceremony.

What was the difference between the first and second prayer books during Edward VI's reign?

The first prayer book retained mixed messages about the mass, implying a corporal presence of Christ in the bread and wine, while the second prayer book made it clear that there was no physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist, aligning with Swiss Reformed theology.

What was the significance of the black rubric introduced in the second prayer book?

The black rubric made it clear that kneeling during the reception of communion was not an act of adoration toward the physical presence of Christ, emphasizing the Protestant understanding that there was no corporal presence in the Eucharist.

What changes occurred in the physical appearance of English churches during Edward VI's reign?

The interiors of churches underwent a program of iconoclasm, with statues and crucifixes being removed or destroyed. The altars were replaced with tables, and church walls, previously decorated with biblical scenes, were whitewashed.

Why did the religious reforms of Edward VI's reign occur, and were they inevitable?

The reforms were not inevitable. While Henry VIII's break from Rome set the stage, he did not plan for the Protestant changes that followed. The key figures who came to power under Edward VI were committed to evangelical reform, although some saw it as politically advantageous.

What role did Edward Seymour play in the religious reforms of Edward VI's reign?

Edward Seymour, the Lord Protector and uncle of Edward VI, played a crucial role in advancing Protestant reforms with the support of figures like Archbishop Cranmer. Seymour's influence helped push through significant changes in theology and liturgy.

How did Henry VIII's death influence the religious direction of England under Edward VI?

After Henry VIII's death, the young Edward VI was guided by evangelical scholars. Although Henry VIII had no plans for the religious reforms that followed, his policies inadvertently allowed the Protestant faction to gain power and push forward the reformation.

What was the main criticism of Edward VI's religious reforms?

Edward VI's religious reforms were later criticized as being led by 'carnal gospelers,' and although they were dramatic and significant, they did not go as far as some theologians wanted, such as reforming canon law, due to political opposition.