1. Class 5: Anabaptists and English Reformation
25 January 2017

2. Introduction
Anabaptists and English Reformation are really theological ‘bookends’ of reformation
Anabaptists known as ‘Radical Reformers’
English Reformation leads to Anglicanism, most like Catholicism

3. Beginnings of Anabaptists )Radical Reformation)
14th C ancestor was Brethren of Common Life
In 16th C a collection of many small splinter groups in Switzerland and Germany
Started in Zurich first as supporters of Zwingli and then moved beyond him
Initial issue was infant baptism (radical understanding of sola gratia, sola fides)
Luther, Zwingli and Calvin accepted it
Anabaptist reject infant Baptism, required converts to be re-baptized
The rejection of infant Baptism also included rejection of Church as a society into which one is born (radical understanding of sola scriptura)
Reject notion of one Church,
No creedal statements

4. Anabaptist Separation from State
Individual Christian in relation to God with only Scripture as a guide
Rejection of liturgy, images
Formed a ‘state within a state’; rejected normal obligations of citizenship: taxes, military service
Separation of small communities of true Church and State
Exclusivists communities
Seen as posing a radical threat to all other Churches and political systems
As a result, persecuted by all: Catholic, Lutheran, Calvinists

5. Anabaptists ‘beliefs’
Rejected infant baptism; sacraments in general
Rejected true presence in Eucharist
Iconoclasts
Sometimes described as Spiritualists
God does not work through material signs
Only radical in-breaking of Spirit into a person’s soul leads to salvation
“me and Jesus”
Anticlerical; radical belief in priesthood of all believers
Recall Luther required training for Pastors
Calvin wrote massive Institutes

6. Schleitheim Articles 1527
Written at a meeting of non-Lutheran, non-Zwingli Protestants in Swiss town of Schleitheim
Only two classes of people: good and bad
Shepherd is anyone who is godly
Radical separation of believers from world
Some groups today that trace to Anabaptists: Baptists, Mennonites, Amish, (Quakers)

7. Reformation in England: opposition to Luther and Calvin
Henry VIII initially opposes Luther, remains faithful to Rome
Cardinal Wolsey excommunicates Luther and burns his books, 1521
Thomas More leads intellectual attack against Luther in England

8. The King’s Great Matter
Henry married Catherine of Spain in 1509 (daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, aunt of HRE Charles V)
Marriage yields no male heir; only Mary Tudor survives childhood
Pope Clement VII refuses to annul marriage
Note the request comes just after Charles V had sacked Rome and Clement not eager to further provoke Charles
Angry that Wolsey could not convince Pope to allow an annulment; Henry replaces Wolsey with More as Chancellor of England
Henry secretly married Anne Boleyn in 1533
Henry declares himself head of Church in England 1534 with Act of Supremacy;
Thomas More and others executed 1535 for refusing to give allegiance to Henry as head of Church

9. Anglican Doctrine
Very little doctrinal disagreement between Henry VIII and Rome
Seven Sacraments, infant baptism accepted
Real Presence in Eucharist (transubstantiation)
Retain much of Catholic liturgical elements
Retain notion of apostolic succession, but now through archbishop of Canterbury
Priestly celibacy continued until Henry VIII’s successor, Edward VI

10. Edward VI ( )
Only surviving son of Henry VIII; mother was Jane Seymour
Becomes king at age 9; dies at 15
Edward moves Church of England toward a more Protestant, less Catholic position
Thomas Canmer, Archbishop of Canterbury

11. Thomas Cranmer ( )
Archbishop of Canterbury when Henry VIII breaks from Rome
Archbishop and guiding force during reign of Edward VI
Cranmer shaped many Anglican views
Abolish priestly celibacy, liturgy in English
Book of Common Prayer
Thirty-Nine Articles are based on his works
When Edward dies, succeeded by Mary Tudor
Cranmer tortured and recants his departure from Catholicism
At his execution at the stake, he states he wants his hand that signed the recantation to burn first. He dies unrepentant.

12. After Henry VIII and Edward VI: Mary Tudor
Mary was the only child of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
Because no male heir after Edward, Mary becomes queen as eldest daughter in 1553
Mary devoutly Catholic
Marries Phillip II of Spain, son of Charles V
English Protestants were persecuted, many executed; “Bloody Mary”
Mary died 1558; her half sister Elizabeth becomes queen
Protestantism restored

13. Queen Elizabeth I Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
Re-establishes Protestantism as official religion of England
Act of Supremacy of 1559 recognized Elizabeth as head of Church in England
But does not execute Catholics
Statement of beliefs in Thirty Nine Articles
Tried to be a middle way between Catholic doctrine, liturgy and evangelical Protestantism
Example: denied transubstantiation; accepted real presence
Some Protestants did not accept this;
Known as “Puritans” who wanted a pure church
Also, wanted radical acceptance of priesthood of all believers, known as Presbyterians; led by John Knox who had studied in Geneva while Mary Tudor reigned

14. Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots (1542-1587) Not to be confused with Mary Tudor
Only child of James V of Scotland;
As great-grand daughter of Henry VII, also had strong claims to English throne after Mary Tudor’s death (Elizabeth being considered illegitimate, at least in Catholic circles)
Succeeded her father to throne at a very young age
Raised in France; married Francois II (son of Henry II)
While in France, England seizes Scotland
Elizabeth encourages growing puritan movement in Scotland and Presbyterians evangelize Catholics there
Mary returns to Scotland after the death of Francois II; is captured and imprisoned by Elizabeth
After 19 years, executed over Catholic plots to overthrow Elizabeth.
However, Mary’s son (by a second marriage), James, succeeds Elizabeth in 1603
James brought up as a Presbyterian in Scotland while his mother is in prison
Strong belief in divine right of kings

15. Models of Church-State Development
Catholic: Two powers, but Pope over civil rulers
Lutheran: Civil rulers over Church (Romans 13)
Calvinists: Combined into one ruling body to form a holy community
Anglican: King head of Church and State
Anabaptists: Perfect congregation within broader evil society; witness to, but does not try to change broader society

16. Assignments
1. Schleitheim Confession of Faith 7.10 in The European Reformations Sourcebook. ed Carter Lindberg. Malden: Blackwell, p
2. Thirty Nine Article of Church of England in The European Reformations Sourcebook. ed Carter Lindberg. Malden: Blackwell, p
Short Paper and Discussion Due on Friday