The Main Impact of Reformation in England - Essay Example

Reforms in England Reforms in England Introduction Reformation in England can be attributed to a series of events that took place in 16th century. The main impact of this reformation is breaking away from the Church of England from pope’s authority as well as the Roman Catholic Church. The events that took place during this period can be associated with a broader process of protestant reformation which took place in the entire Europe. A political and religious movement which affected Christianity’s practice in Europe is one of the factors that contributed to great reforms that were witnessed in terms of Protestant Reformation (Bucholz & Key, 2009). Other factors that are attributable to these reforms include the feudalism’s decline, the rise of common law, and the nationalism’s rise. The reforms brought about significant changes in England’s churches as well as their operations and in the political arena as the document discusses. Discussion Question one King Henry VIII reigned in England for thirty years. He presided over comprehensive changes which saw his nation into a great protestant reformation. He married a series of six wives. This was in the search of marital bliss, healthy male heir as well as a political alliance. The king’s desire of annulling his first marriage deprived of papal approval gave rise to a separate Church of England. Among his six marriages, two of them ended in annulment. Two of them were as a result of natural deaths while two other were as a result of beheadings of his wives as a result of treason and adultery. It is hence clear that the king’s acts partly contributed to the Protestant reforms that took place in England (Bradstock, 2011). King Henry VIII resolved that he required no permission from the Roman Catholic to execute any matter related to the church. This was contrary to the trend that had been in existence. The act hence formed the beginning of the Protestant reforms. The acts of parliament that were passed between the years 1532 to 1534 also played a significant role in the Protestant reforms. Act of Supremacy is among the acts that were passed during this period (Bucholz & Key, 2009). This act declared King Henry VIII as the Church of England’s supreme head in the entire world. This marked another reform in the protest church of England. They first shifted from the Roman Catholic, and now they are directly linked with the political leadership of England. The final authority in legal disputes and doctrinal from hence became the monarch’s responsibility. The papacy was dispossessed of revenue as well as the final say in bishop’s appointments. It is thus evident that the king’s personal decisions and behaviors coupled with the Acts of Parliament are the leading aspects that gave rise to the Protestant Reformation in England. These reforms impacted some changes in the church as an institution in England. One of the effects that erupted to the church is interdenominational wars. The reforms brought about significant changes in the way church was previously acting. It was from the Roman Catholic mode of operation and now a new system that is in contrast with the Roman Catholic mode. The Catholics expresses their discontent with king’s decision as expressed by the pope and hence a commotion is eminent between the two churches. However, the England church becomes liberated to some activities they were not supposed to do under the Roman Catholic system especially in terms of marriage events. The management of church as an institution changed where the king was declared the supreme leader of the church. The papacy was also barred from the revenue matters as well as the appointments of bishops this indicates that church activities changed significantly with these reforms (Bucholz & Key, 2009). In terms of religious practices and ideas, a number of changes also erupted. A printing press was invented. The press increased the Bible circulation. This allowed an efficient new knowledge transmission as well as the scholar’s ideas. This was, however, attributed to government policy’s changes which encouraged the public to accommodate these reforms. The church also started acting independently. Pope had no power any more to the Church of England, and hence they could appoint their leaders and execute other mandates on their way contrary to the Roman Catholics’ way (Bradstock, 2011). Question two The glorious revolution of 1688 can be defined as the blood-less coup that saw the overthrow of King James II in the year 1688. The revolution also led to the establishment of Mary and William as monarchs. This revolution brought about change in the balance of power between the parliament and the monarchy. The revolution was produced by a series of events that came due to various religious and political issues. The revolution led to the abolishment of absolutism and in turn gave rise to a constitutional monarchy in England. The constitutional monarchy in England enabled the Parliament to have basic sovereignty over the king. The glorious revolution in England, therefore, marked a transition from an absolute monarch to the constitutional monarch. The transition enhanced a change in the powers as well as the role that the king of England was playing. An absolute monarchy meant that the king had power to do anything (Bradstock, 2011). The parliament as well as the law could not constraint the king to do whatever he wished to do. A constitutional monarchy, on the other hand, meant that the king was acting as the figurehead, but his power was limited by the parliament. The glorious revolution gave rise to 1689 English bill of rights which was succeeded quickly by 1689 Mutiny Act. The signing of the right’s bill that made England a constitutional monarchy enhanced a power balance between the Parliament and the monarchy. Power balance acted in the favor of the parliament. This indicated that Britain had become more democratic. This is because decisions were being made a group of people who have been elected but not a sole person who is on the throne through birthright’s inheritance (Bucholz & Key, 2009). The Act of Settlement 1701 is an Act that was passed in the same year. Its aim was settling the succession to the Irish and English crowns, the thrones on Hanover’s Electress Sophia as well as the non-Catholic heirs. This act was prompted by the failure of Queen Mary II, King William III and Queen Anne, Mary’s sister to produce a surviving child. The Settlement Act of 1701 was also designed to secure protestant’s succession to the throne. It was also designed to strengthen guarantees for ensuring the government’s parliamentary system. It also strengthened the rights bill act of the year 1689. This act was established previously the order for Mary II’s heirs to succeed her (Bradstock, 2011). According to 1701 act, the succession the throne’s succession went to Princess Sophia, the Hanover’s Electress as well as her Protestant heirs. However, Sophia passed on before Queen Anne hence the succession went automatically to her son. The Act laid down some conditions through which the crown would be held. According to the Act 1701 the there is no roman catholic or any person married to a Roman Catholic was liable to hold an English crown (Bucholz & Key, 2009). This means that the sovereign had to swear on the maintenance of the Church of England. Identification Lollardy was a secular movement that originated from the writings of John Wycliffe. The significance of this movement was to object the religious beliefs. Based on the beliefs of the movement, the pope was not supposed to play any role in the affairs that affected the world. The movement was formed in the 1320s. One of the main motives why it was formed was to enhance the understanding of the Bible in English. Born in London on February 7 1478, John More was a trained lawyer. One of his major works was “Utopia” published in 1516. The significance of his works was to defend the orthodoxy of the Catholic Church. He became more active during the reign of King Henry. In 1529, More became the lord chancellor. More is recognized as one of the scholars who objected the divorce of King Henry. He ensured that his ideas spread throughout England through writings, which were published and sold in England and all over Europe. In 1588, the Spanish Armada sailed to England with the intention of overthrowing Queen Elizabeth. It was opposed to the Protestant reforms that were taking place in England during this time. Spain did not like the way England imposed protestant beliefs on its colonies such as Holland and Belgium. As a result of the Spanish Armada, Sir Francis Drake became a hero since England emerged victorious. The New Model Army was established in 1645. It was formed by the parliament. The reason for forming this army was to overthrow the king’s army. It comprised of a military unit whose intention was to lead to a Civil War in England. Oliver Cromwell and General Fairfax were the commanders of this army. The Levellers used to be Christian radicals who had a huge impact on both the French and American Revolutions. Levellers represented the plight of the working populations, which were being subjected to harsh conditions by the kings. In order to present their grievances, they campaigned against King Charles I. Some of the most renowned Levellers included Richard Overton, John Lilburn, William Wallwyn and Gerard Winstanley and others. The people’s agreement was published in 1649. Conclusion The discussion above indicates that there were various conditions that gave rise to the Reformation of the Protestant church. It is worth noting that the Protestant reforms did not only reform the church. It also brought major reforms to the British modes of governance. It is hence right that the protestant reformation was not only religious but also political. The glorious revolution, on the other hand, played a significant role in changing the British model of leadership. It is because of this revolution that democracy entered England. References Bucholz, R. O., & Key, N. (2009). Early modern England 1485-1714: A narrative history. Chichester, U.K: Wiley-Blackwell. Bradstock, A. (2011). Radical Religion in Cromwells England: A Concise History from the English Civil War to the End of the Commonwealth. Read More