Reformation

Reformation is a term used to refer the great religious movement of the sixteenth century. Its aim was to
reform the doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome. Hilaire Belloc said that, it was a revolt against Catholicism
and a sudden violet with loud noise.
Causes:
The first cause was that some of the doctrines and practices of the Church become outdated and irrelevant.
Secondly, there was growing spirit of nationalism which was sown by Joan of Arc. Thirdly the idea of obeying a
foreign pope was not liked by all. So there was rivalry between popes and anti-popes. Corruption and Nepotism was
found among the people. Favoritism became almost the order of the day. To solve this problem new St Peter’s
basilica was constructed. Those who contributed to the building fund were granted plenary indulgences. Later, papal
bull issued in 1499 reconfirmed the above. In the time of Leo X the construction was fast progressing .The building
was elaborate and expensive. The only problem for them was money. In order to gain fund they thought of granting
fresh indulgences. The people were shocked by the commercial operation that was going in the name of Christianity.
Reformation movement:
Martin Luther, an ex-Augustinian monk of Germany started the reformation movement on 31st October
1517.It contained ninety five debating points against the doctrine of indulgences and other matters of great
importance. He also wrote to Rome drawing attention to the scandal that was going on. The Pope Leo X on 15th June
1520, not knowing of what he was doing signed the excommunication of Martin. Martin burnt the bull. As a result
many monks and nuns left their monasteries and nunneries and quite a number of them got married, violating the
vows. Martin Luther himself got married at the age of 42 and had six children. The first of the six children was born
ten days after the marriage.
The movement had many supporters in Germany and other European countries. But there was little response from
England. The entry of England into the reformation movement was an accident. The desire of King Henry VIII to get
an annulment of his marriage with Catherine was denied by Pope Clement VII. The solution to this problem was a
complete break with Rome.
Reformation in the time of Henry VIII:
The entry of England into the reformation movement was the desire of King Henry VIII to get an annulment
of his marriage with Catherine of Aragon, because he loved Anne Boleyn. He couldn’t get permission from Pope
Clement VII. Thus in 1529 Henry VIII summoned a parliament which came to known as Reformation Parliament.
The parliament began by cutting down the fees paid to the clergy. With the act of supremacy in 1534, Henry became
the supreme head of the Church of England abolishing the pope’s authority. By the Reformation Parliament bill
passed in 1536, monasteries were dissolved and their property confiscated to the use of the king.
In Europe, the Reformation meant the rejection of papal authority. But Henry was not protestant as far as
doctrine concerned. He tried to keep England Catholic without the pope. He protected the Catholic doctrines and law
imposed death penalty on anyone who questioned the Catholic doctrines.
Reformation movement during the reign of Edward VI and Mary:
During the reign of Edward VI, the Duke of Somerset and Archbishop Crammer took supplementary measures
to dissolve the religious foundations. Crammer in the year 1549 prepared the first prayer book for the church services.
Three years later a second prayer book was issued which to some extend questioned the great Roman Catholic
doctrine.
When Mary ascended the throne, she restored the old form of worship. By the year 1554, she repealed all the
anti-papal statutes of Henry VIII’s time. In order to wipe out Protestantism from England, she started burning people
at a place called Smithfield. During her short reign of five years, she nearly burnt three hundred people, including
john roger, Crammer, Ridley and Latimer. This was the one of the causes to make England Protestant.
Religious settlement made by Queen Elizabeth
Avoiding the extremes of former rulers, Elizabeth established the Church of England which was started by
Henry VIII. A common prayer book was given to the every church of the country. Two acts which defined the
difference between the Church of England and Church of Rome were the Act of Supremacy and the Act of
Uniformity. The Act of Supremacy made the Church of England independent of Rome, but gave Elizabeth the les
provocative little of supreme governor rather than supreme head. The other act not only put all the clergy to conduct
the services according to the prayer book but also imposed the duty of church going on every Sunday and other holy
days to all people in the country. A fine of twelve pence was set up for the non-attendance at church.
Results of the movement:
With the enforcement of uniformity there started non-conformity. The tolerant Anglicans subscribed to the
Church of England, while the extreme Catholics remained outside paying the fines. At the same time the extreme
Protestants who adopted Calvin found the English church with its ancient vestments and forms of worship.