What were the Reasons for, and How Radical were the Religious
Changes between 1529-1547?
Why did Henry Break from Rome?
Desire for Power
Many sources depict Henry is having a powerful ego and wanting to be supreme in
all matters.
It could be argued that this was the motivation behind the break, and that the
divorce was simply an occasion and not cause.
However, this argument is less convincing given the amount of time Henry spent
trying to persuade the Pope to grant the divorce.
Even legislation such as the first Act of Annates was conditional, giving the Pope the
opportunity to grant the divorce in return for the abandonment of the break.
Money
A more convincing argument for the break from Rome, is that Henry wanted the
church’s wealth.
It was no secret that the church was incredibly wealthy, and Henry had seen how
easy it was to obtain money from it thanks to the charge of praemunire in 1530.
Moreover, Cromwell had promised to make Henry ‘the richest man in Christendom’.
However, this interpretation does not fit the chronology of the events, as instead it
suggests that the acquisition of wealth was a bonus, not a cause.
It was only with the dissolution of the greater monasteries in 1539 that Henry gained
substantially.
The Desire to bring about Doctrinal Change
This desire can be seen in the legislation passed by parliament in the period 1533-34.
Date Act Main terms
Feb 1533 Act in restraint of appeals - Prevents appeals to the pope.
- No foreign interference in England
Jan 1534 The Act in Restraint of Annates - Stopped payments to Rome.
(and 1532) - The first was temporary.
March 1534 Act of the submission of the - Prevents church contact with Rome
clergy
March 1534 The Act of Succession - Catherine is no longer his wife
- Makes Mary illegitimate.
- His marriage to Anne is declared legal
November The Act of Supremacy - Henry becomes head of the church,
1534 removing the pope.
Dec 1534 The Act for First Fruit and Tenths - Holders of church jobs had to give
money to the king.
Dec 1534 The Treason Act - It’s a crime to criticise the changes,
marriage, and succession.
, Corruption of the Church
At this point in time, corruption was present in the structure of the church, and it
could be said that Henry, as a good Christian, was trying to change that.
However, it must be said that this was very much a secondary reason, rather than a
primary.
o Pluralism, simony, absenteeism, wealth – church offices could be bought,
many with higher up positions within the church had more than one post. As
such, they were often absent from one of them yet still received a salary from
both.
o Anti-clericalism – opposition to the clergy for not living as they should, e.g.,
having mistresses and/or children, drunkenness, neglect of duties, low levels
of education and religious knowledge.
o Wealth - The amount of money the church has was a harsh contrast to the
poverty facing the peasants, and some felt that the catholic church was more
interested in money than religion. For example, the church sold indulgences
for those who had committed a sin, and these individuals would be
pardoned.
o The invention of the printing press – this allowed information to spread more
quickly and allowed criticisms of the church to be voiced and heard by many
more people.
Legal Changes
In the period from 1529-34, the changes were largely jurisdictional and gave Henry
legal power over the church.
They only started towards the end of the 30s, however.
Even so, these legal changes were significant, as they signalled a shift of power from
the church to the state.
What Factors Influenced Religious Changes?
The religious changes of the period from 1536 to 47 can be divided into 4 phases:
o 1536-39 – a swing towards a more reformed, protestant religion.
o 1539-40 – a return to more traditional, Catholic practises.
o 1541-43 – a period of religious confusion.
o 1544-47 – the triumph of the reformed faction of government.
Changes between 1529-1547?
Why did Henry Break from Rome?
Desire for Power
Many sources depict Henry is having a powerful ego and wanting to be supreme in
all matters.
It could be argued that this was the motivation behind the break, and that the
divorce was simply an occasion and not cause.
However, this argument is less convincing given the amount of time Henry spent
trying to persuade the Pope to grant the divorce.
Even legislation such as the first Act of Annates was conditional, giving the Pope the
opportunity to grant the divorce in return for the abandonment of the break.
Money
A more convincing argument for the break from Rome, is that Henry wanted the
church’s wealth.
It was no secret that the church was incredibly wealthy, and Henry had seen how
easy it was to obtain money from it thanks to the charge of praemunire in 1530.
Moreover, Cromwell had promised to make Henry ‘the richest man in Christendom’.
However, this interpretation does not fit the chronology of the events, as instead it
suggests that the acquisition of wealth was a bonus, not a cause.
It was only with the dissolution of the greater monasteries in 1539 that Henry gained
substantially.
The Desire to bring about Doctrinal Change
This desire can be seen in the legislation passed by parliament in the period 1533-34.
Date Act Main terms
Feb 1533 Act in restraint of appeals - Prevents appeals to the pope.
- No foreign interference in England
Jan 1534 The Act in Restraint of Annates - Stopped payments to Rome.
(and 1532) - The first was temporary.
March 1534 Act of the submission of the - Prevents church contact with Rome
clergy
March 1534 The Act of Succession - Catherine is no longer his wife
- Makes Mary illegitimate.
- His marriage to Anne is declared legal
November The Act of Supremacy - Henry becomes head of the church,
1534 removing the pope.
Dec 1534 The Act for First Fruit and Tenths - Holders of church jobs had to give
money to the king.
Dec 1534 The Treason Act - It’s a crime to criticise the changes,
marriage, and succession.
, Corruption of the Church
At this point in time, corruption was present in the structure of the church, and it
could be said that Henry, as a good Christian, was trying to change that.
However, it must be said that this was very much a secondary reason, rather than a
primary.
o Pluralism, simony, absenteeism, wealth – church offices could be bought,
many with higher up positions within the church had more than one post. As
such, they were often absent from one of them yet still received a salary from
both.
o Anti-clericalism – opposition to the clergy for not living as they should, e.g.,
having mistresses and/or children, drunkenness, neglect of duties, low levels
of education and religious knowledge.
o Wealth - The amount of money the church has was a harsh contrast to the
poverty facing the peasants, and some felt that the catholic church was more
interested in money than religion. For example, the church sold indulgences
for those who had committed a sin, and these individuals would be
pardoned.
o The invention of the printing press – this allowed information to spread more
quickly and allowed criticisms of the church to be voiced and heard by many
more people.
Legal Changes
In the period from 1529-34, the changes were largely jurisdictional and gave Henry
legal power over the church.
They only started towards the end of the 30s, however.
Even so, these legal changes were significant, as they signalled a shift of power from
the church to the state.
What Factors Influenced Religious Changes?
The religious changes of the period from 1536 to 47 can be divided into 4 phases:
o 1536-39 – a swing towards a more reformed, protestant religion.
o 1539-40 – a return to more traditional, Catholic practises.
o 1541-43 – a period of religious confusion.
o 1544-47 – the triumph of the reformed faction of government.
