Edward VI + religion

Clips on the Edwardian Reformation and the opposition in the country over the changes within the Church.

The chief rebellion against the religious changes was the 1549 'Western Rebellion' also known as the 'Prayer Book rebellion'. As the name suggests, the rebellion in part was a rejection of Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer which introduced a reformed liturgy to be employed in all parishes. The rebellion also originated in far South-West England notably in Devon.




The reign of Edward VI saw a full out Protestant Reformation. The Reformation under Henry VIII in contrast was not Protestant and retained many traditional elements like for example preserving as official doctrine the Catholic version of mass (transubstantiation) and preventing the clergy to marry. Under Edward VI however such traditional aspects were attacked and the interior of the Church was changed. This included the smashing of stained glass windows, the whitewashing of church walls that had religious murals adorning them and the removal of statues and gilded objects etc. Reformers would argue that such ornate objects took something away from worship and instead the congregation should focus only the priest and the sermon (thus emphasis on scripture).

However in many communities there was general pride in the local church. After all people frequently bequeathed objects to their local church and groups of people in the village could come together to raise money for their Church. To witness the destruction of aspects of the Church angered many. It also resulted in a sense of loss of comfort. After all many people only knew of one way of worship and to see this being attached was extremely uncomfortable. Many conservatives derived comfort from pilgrimages, praying with rosaries, curtsying to the cross and were resentful that the government challenged this.

Despite the anger from many there was a significant Protestant minority in England by Edward's reign and such people would go into exile or even die for their beliefs during the reign of Mary I. We also know that during Edward's reign there were certain regions of the country where reformist beliefs were more influential than in others. For example during Edward's reign there was another rebellion known as 'Kett's Rebellion' but this uprising was over economic matters. This rebellion occurred in the south east in East Anglia. The rebels here appear to have been mostly Reformers and did not contest the changes in the church. So the Edwardian Reformation was not rejected in certain areas and in some towns like Bristol.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Edward
• VI
• Tudor
• Reformation
• Protestantism
• Thomas
• Cranmer
• Western
• Rebellion
• England

[InnateNobility]

I really like Edward VI -- there's much about his father and half-sisters, but he himself always intrigued me. In Alison Weir's The Children of Henry VIII, he was portrayed to be led by ambitious men -- none of which excluded his Seymour relatives and the religious zealots who used him as a tool for the Reformation.

I think if he had managed to reach his full-fledged majority that Edward would have been a great king, easily surpassing Henry in matters of state.

[ElizabethIrish]

Sad little prince, so misguided. "...woe to those through which scandal comes." -Jesus

[telamon2011]

What many do not understand is that Edward VI, along with Catherine Parr and Lady Jane Grey, were nutty evangelicals who would be compared to the holy rollers of today. There was nothing tolerant about them, as they believed in persecuting Anglicans and Presbyterians as well as Catholics. It should also be noted that Edward sought to disinherit both Mary AND Elizabeth, the latter whose Protestantism he thought was not radical enough.

[WooTaShooTa]

Which of Starkey's docos is this please?

[AntiCalvinLuther]

His heresy sent him to hell.

[ThoughtTraveler]

Oliver Cromwell was the greatest Englishman who ever lived!!!

[audie83]

I'm going from memory. I seem to recall Edward got separated from his hunting party when he came upon the little girl somewhere in the forest. I'm trying to recall her name but it's not come to me yet. I can only vaguely recall (I was a child when I read the bio!) that she was impressed by Edward-enough to remember him a hundred years later. It seems she told the tale often. She apparently gave the lost young monarch directions to get back to his party.:)

[audie83]

I can't recall the title but I'm sure it was something along the lines of 'Edward VI Boy King'. Someone on another site mentioned the woman's name but I can't remember the name! I'm trying to recall which video commentary it was on. I'll get back to you if I find it. She's probably mentioned somewhere on one of the Tudor sites on the net also.

[Hippodameia]

Really? That sounds interesting! Where did you read about it?

[cinnamonteak]

david starkey's "Henry VII", "Elisabeth", "Monarchy", and the one you mentioned :)

[cinnamonteak]

david starkey's tv documentaries.

[WickedMaureenJohnson]

Yes yes agreed with bhilsask. What are these from? I'd really enjoy the buy! Reply ASAP