1. Commemoration of the Reformation
Resource 3
The Reformation in England

2. The Reformation in England
The English Reformation, (which also covered Wales and Ireland), was largely because of changes in government policy, and not because of the Catholic religion itself.
The people of England had to just accept the changes and get used to them, because it was something that the King had decreed.
WHICH KING??

3. King Henry VIII of England
The English Reformation began in the reign of King Henry VIII (r ) Henry wanted to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, who was Spanish, because she had failed to give him a male heir Henry asked the Pope for a ‘dispensation’ but this was refused Henry decided to break ties with Rome and make his own rules to do with Church law

4. King Henry VIII splits from Rome
Henry decides he doesn’t need permission from the Pope to get a divorce.
He is King – he will give himself permission
England broke away from Rome and in 1529 Henry became head of the Church of England

5. The Reformation in England
Act of Supremacy declared Henry VIII to be "Supreme Head on earth of the Church of England“
Many disagreed with Henry breaking away from Rome so Henry got rid of them
1535 – He executed his Lord Chancellor - Thomas More and his Bishop - John Fisher
he executed his second wife, Anne Boleyn, in order to marry his third wife, Jane Seymour
Henry had a total of 6 wives

6. The Dissolution of the Monasteries
Henry abolished the monasteries and took the lands and wealth for the Crown
Many landowners became very rich from the looting of the monasteries and taking over their lands
They were very happy with the changes

7. The great Bible
1539 – the Tyndale Bible translation was approved by Henry VIII
Every parish in England had to purchase a copy and place it ‘for all to see and read’
‘The Great Bible’ was to be read in all Church of England services

8. Henry’s Son, Edward VI
Edward VI, Henry’s son, became king aged 9, and died aged 15
All images in churches were to be destroyed:
stained glass; shrines; statues;
bells; paintings; crucifixes
Vestments were burned
Chalices melted down
Processions were banned
Ashes and palms prohibited
Feast days prohibited

9. The Reformation in England
The Reformation was a very violent period in English history
Henry VIII had executed about 70 people for ‘religious reasons’ among a total of 130 political executions
Family members fought with each other
Each side, Catholic and Protestant, was certain it was right
Deaths, burning at the stake and other executions were frequent on both sides 9

10. The Reformation response
What was the response of the Catholic Church to the Reformation?
The Church responded by calling the heads of the Church to a Council to discuss the problems
This Council was called the Council of Trent

11. The Catholic Church - The Catholic Counter Reformation
The Council of Trent met on and off from this was the start of the Catholic Counter Reformation
The Reformation in 1517 led to a series of religious wars that finally ended in the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648)
The Counter Reformation ended at the close of the Thirty Years’ War in 1648

12. The Council of Trent
The Council of Trent made certain changes to the way things were organised in the Catholic Church
There was an end to the selling of indulgences
Priests’ spiritual and intellectual training would be in seminaries
Bishops were not to be selected for political reasons
A new Catechism was printed with the Catholic teachings set out clearly, and this though revised is still in use today
The Roman Missal set out a reformed and uniform order of the Mass, and this is still in use this today

13. Results of the Counter Reformation
There was an upsurge in religious orders such as the Jesuits and the Capuchin friars
There was a revival of holiness and personal devotions
Influential mystics such as St. Philip Neri, St Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross inspired many believers
HOWEVER 
Many people joined the new, different churches springing up and Europe became a battlefield because of religious fighting over the years

14. Reformed Churches
As time went on, different groups, assemblies and movements began to appear as ‘reformed’ churches.
Protestantism split into ‘left wing’ and right wing’.
Eventually these different groups developed into the ‘Free Churches’, assembling in their own places of worship. Membership was voluntary.

15. The Catholic Church and The Reformation
As a result of the Reformation 500 years ago there are very many different Christian churches worshipping in different ways in the world today.

16. That They May All Be One…….
For the past fifty years the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church have been working and talking together to overcome their differences and create a unity in Christ
We realise that there is more that unites us than divides us
Lutheran Church
I ask …..on behalf of all those who believe in me….. that they may all be one. John 17:20

17. See How They Love One Another
People watching the early Christians said, ‘See how they love one another!’
This is what we pray will happen again with all Christians loving one another and being able to worship together.

18. Prayer for Christian unity
Let us pray for the unity of Christians Lord Jesus Christ, at your Last Supper you prayed to the Father that all should be one. Bring down your Holy Spirit upon all of us, your Christian followers, to lead us that we may serve you in unity. Strengthen our faith in you and help us to love one another as you love us. 18

19. Prayer for Christian unity
We pray that God, our Creator, will strengthen us, Jesus, our gracious Saviour, will guide us, and that the love of the Holy Spirit will remain in our hearts, working through us, so that all Christians may grow in understanding and peace. We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 19