To what extent was England a Catholic nation by Marys death in 1558?
England was mostly a Catholic nation by Marys death in 1558. Sources T, U and S suggest that
England was a Catholic nation. However, source O suggests that England wasn’t a Catholic nation by
Marys death in 1558.
Source S suggest that England was a Catholic nation by Marys death in 1558. The source is a first-
hand account welcoming Catholicism in England. The source states the changes from 1547 to 1553,
this means that the burnings haven’t begun, and it is very early into Marys reign. The tone is very
welcoming with Catholicism coming back in its ‘full glory’. England had been changing back and forth
from Catholic to Protestantism ever since Henry the eights broke from Rome, many people were
divided on what religion they were. The source was written in 1553, right at the start of Marys reign.
By this point she hadn’t been able to do much apart from bring back catholic practices that were
taken away during the Protestant reforms. However, the source doesn’t go into detail about later
events for example the burning of protestants and new laws.
Source T also suggests that England was catholic nation. The source was written from 1520-73 going
through all of Marys reign. This indicates that the writer had seen all the acts Mary had put in place,
including the burning of Protestants and the new laws. The writer of the source was a Catholic priest
meaning he would have had a religious bias for welcoming Catholicism back to England. The source
states that the parish was in a ‘state of decay’ during Edwards time and that ‘no gifts were given’.
During Edwards reforms churches which held traditional catholic elements such as stain glass
windows and superstitious images were removed. Many people didn’t like this. However, when
Mary came to power, she managed to restore the superstitious elements back to the churches. This
was welcomed by many Catholics who wanted churches back to the way they used to be. However,
Mary did have to remove many of Edwards second prayer books from the churches which took a lot
of time and money. However, the fact that she managed to restore the churches implies that
England was a catholic country. However, the source ignores more negative aspects of Marys
policies, for example the burnings of Protestants.
Source U also implies that England was a catholic nation by the time of her death. The source was
written in 1557, one year before Mary died meaning that a lot had been done to the country. By this
time many people would have watched as protestants were burnt alive. The fact that the church is
being repaired implies that Catholicism was welcomed into England since they were fitting in ‘bells’
and to fix the ‘alter’ which were key to features of a catholic church. However, since changes were
being made this late into her reign implies that it wasn’t as welcomed right as she came to power.
The Cardinal Pope made many good changes to the churches in father of Catholicism, he made sure
future priest were trained, brough an end to pluralism and set up the London Synod. All of these acts
would have given a good reputation to Catholicism, however it didn’t have enough time to take
strong action.
Source O, however, indicates that England wasn’t a Catholic. The source was written by Simon
Renard and is a private report to King Philip. The fact that it was a report indicates that it would be
truthful and honest meaning we can trust the source, however there might be a slight political bias.
Mary was a devoted Catholic and believed that when the protestants burnt alive, she was helping
them get into heaven. The source was written in 1552, two years into her reign and by then the
burnings had started. The source states that people thought that the new enforcements were ‘cruel’
and that ‘some of the onlookers wept’. This indicates that some many people didn’t like the
England was mostly a Catholic nation by Marys death in 1558. Sources T, U and S suggest that
England was a Catholic nation. However, source O suggests that England wasn’t a Catholic nation by
Marys death in 1558.
Source S suggest that England was a Catholic nation by Marys death in 1558. The source is a first-
hand account welcoming Catholicism in England. The source states the changes from 1547 to 1553,
this means that the burnings haven’t begun, and it is very early into Marys reign. The tone is very
welcoming with Catholicism coming back in its ‘full glory’. England had been changing back and forth
from Catholic to Protestantism ever since Henry the eights broke from Rome, many people were
divided on what religion they were. The source was written in 1553, right at the start of Marys reign.
By this point she hadn’t been able to do much apart from bring back catholic practices that were
taken away during the Protestant reforms. However, the source doesn’t go into detail about later
events for example the burning of protestants and new laws.
Source T also suggests that England was catholic nation. The source was written from 1520-73 going
through all of Marys reign. This indicates that the writer had seen all the acts Mary had put in place,
including the burning of Protestants and the new laws. The writer of the source was a Catholic priest
meaning he would have had a religious bias for welcoming Catholicism back to England. The source
states that the parish was in a ‘state of decay’ during Edwards time and that ‘no gifts were given’.
During Edwards reforms churches which held traditional catholic elements such as stain glass
windows and superstitious images were removed. Many people didn’t like this. However, when
Mary came to power, she managed to restore the superstitious elements back to the churches. This
was welcomed by many Catholics who wanted churches back to the way they used to be. However,
Mary did have to remove many of Edwards second prayer books from the churches which took a lot
of time and money. However, the fact that she managed to restore the churches implies that
England was a catholic country. However, the source ignores more negative aspects of Marys
policies, for example the burnings of Protestants.
Source U also implies that England was a catholic nation by the time of her death. The source was
written in 1557, one year before Mary died meaning that a lot had been done to the country. By this
time many people would have watched as protestants were burnt alive. The fact that the church is
being repaired implies that Catholicism was welcomed into England since they were fitting in ‘bells’
and to fix the ‘alter’ which were key to features of a catholic church. However, since changes were
being made this late into her reign implies that it wasn’t as welcomed right as she came to power.
The Cardinal Pope made many good changes to the churches in father of Catholicism, he made sure
future priest were trained, brough an end to pluralism and set up the London Synod. All of these acts
would have given a good reputation to Catholicism, however it didn’t have enough time to take
strong action.
Source O, however, indicates that England wasn’t a Catholic. The source was written by Simon
Renard and is a private report to King Philip. The fact that it was a report indicates that it would be
truthful and honest meaning we can trust the source, however there might be a slight political bias.
Mary was a devoted Catholic and believed that when the protestants burnt alive, she was helping
them get into heaven. The source was written in 1552, two years into her reign and by then the
burnings had started. The source states that people thought that the new enforcements were ‘cruel’
and that ‘some of the onlookers wept’. This indicates that some many people didn’t like the
