Church and State
January 2007
Assess the claim that from 1529-1547, the religious changes showed that Henry VIII was an enthusiastic Protestant
How far by the end of her reign in 1558 had Mary I achieved her aims in religion?
(a). This question considers the nature of the Reformation and whether it was a political manoeuvre for Henry to obtain divorce and power from the Church, or was genuine concern for the corruption associated with Roman Catholicism. It is traditionally regarded that the Church around 1529 had transformed into a institution whereby clergy were greedy for carnal pleasures and wealth. Money changed hands and the ignorant people were being exploited by their superstitious beliefs of Purgatory, paying priests to rid them of their sins. There is to some extent some evidence for their superstitions in their wills, where they often bequeathed large sums of money to the Church in hope that would allay their wrongdoings and allow them a path to heaven. However, cases of pluralism and absenteeism seemed to be exaggerated and true events were very isolated such as the case of Richard Hunne and Wolsey.
The next steps in the Reformation go further to affirm the political nature behind the religious changes: the Act of the First Fruits and Tenths, the Dissolution of the Monasteries debased the power of the Church in England and money poured into the coffers of the Royal Treasury as the Crown sold monastic lands. If Henry VIII was truly considering a Protestant reform, he would not have needed to dispose of Cromwell in 1540 and such an extent of stripping the powers of the Pope's influence in England would not have necessary.
More evidence points to the true nature of Henry's religious beliefs. Having wrested the control of the Church from Rome in the Act of Supremacy and having obtained the wealth in the name of Protestant Reform and greed of the Catholic Church, he quickly instigated the Six Articles which by all means seemed to repeal much of the New Religion's reform.
okay, i'll stop here. I have loads to revise. My arguments are so lacking in examples.
June 2006
How widespread was the criticism of the Church of England in 1529? Explain
How much support was there for Protestantism in England by the end of Edwards VI's reign in 1553? Explain
January 2006
How extensively did Henry VIII attack Catholic practices and beliefs during the years from 1529 to the Six Articles (1539)?
Assess the claim that the most important reason why Mary I's religious policies aroused opposition was her marriage to Philip of Spain