Detailed notes on the AS Section of Religious Conflict and the Church , used for my revision and essays, which facilitated my accreditation of an A*. Covers all aspects of the state and development of the church from in clear, bullet point format. This includes: the political/ social role of the c...
Religious Conflict and the Church in England: 1529-1570
The monarchy:
Wars of the Roses- conflict between the House of Lancaster and the House of York
Battle of Bosworth 1485- Richard III defeated by Henry Tudor
Henry claimed to be true Lancastrian heir to Edward III
Marriage of Henry VII to Elizabeth of York- ended Wars of the Roses
However, the Pretenders Lambert Sinnel and Perkin Warbeck- backed by foreigners-
not defeated until 1499- after Henry’s coronation
White Rose faction- York malists- challenged the throne as claimants
Arthur Tudor- died 1502- made Henry VIII unsuspected heir to the throne
Dealt with threats- Margaret, Countess of Salisbury in 1541 and the execution of the
Earl of Salisbury in 1546
The nobility:
Higher nobility- had military and political strengths
Henry VII became king emerging from equals- weakened his position
Nobility had a political role in Parliament
Privy Chamber- private chambers of the monarch only accessible to those closest to
the king- heavily guarded and staffed by trusted nobles
Privy Council- a group of councillors composed of the nobility and clergy- chosen by
the king to help him govern
Parliament divided into two:
-House of Lords- major nobility and leading clergy
- House of Commons- representatives from shires and boroughs and MPs from
towns and cities
Parliament- called infrequently, sat for a short time and main function was to grant
taxes for the king- in times of imminent danger from foreign powers
King lived on feudal dues and crown lands
Under Henry VIII- Parliament revolutionised and quintessential in organsing the
break with Rome
Monarch was present in localities
Nobles active in court- legal cases related to land, property- brought criminals to
justice
Court of the Star Chamber- ceiling decoration at Westminster palace- court
supervised lower courts and could be appealed to directly- gained great power
under Henry VIII
The church:
Monarch dependent on the church
England part of the Christendom- countries in which Catholicism was the established
religion- monarchs swore obedience to the pope
Henry VIII claimed legitimacy by being anointed by the Pope with Holy Oil by the
Archbishop of Cantebury at Westminster Abbey
Popes were said to be the successors of St Peter
Church’s control over England included:
-collecting taxes- sent to Rome
, -Practicing canon law- decided by cardinals and Pope in Rome
-Church courts- tried religious matters
-Abbots and Bishops sat at the House of Lords with the right to determine secular
legislation
-Churchmen wielded power as advisors
Power of church in England
-Widespread- each settlement had a priest and parish church- had local authority
and collected tithes
-Abbeys, monasteries, priories- most areas had these- worked with the people to
help the poor and provided education for the sons of the gentry
-Held omnipresent power- more significant than the monarch’s
Significance of Religion
Medium which all people viewed the world through
All things explained as god’s will or the ‘work of the devil’
Eternal life viewed as more important than life on earth
Fear of Hell- wall paintings and stain glass windows- requirements of godly life and
obeying the priest would reduce time spent in purgatory
Purgatory- state after death in which those destined for heaven ‘undergo
purification, so as to achieve holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven’
Masses, members of guilds, gifts to the church- hastened passage to heaven
Pilgrimages, the acquisition of indulgences, praying to saints and viewing holy relics-
important in day to day life
New Religious ideas:
Majority of population didn’t question religious beliefs
End of 15th century- educated people affected by intellectual change caused by the
Renaissance- cultural movement born in Italy- late middle ages
Learning of classics- people like Erasmus- translated ancient Greek religious texts-
wanted to transform the church to the original views of Christ
Books of Hours- bought to inspire greater
Questions raised about the fundamentals of the religious doctrine
Martin Luther- argued that Christianity was based upon the inner workings of
humanity rather than the outer workings- argued that only faith, not good works,
could benefit the soul
Also argued faith was a gift from god- salvation couldn’t be achieved by performing
Catholic approved works
Published ‘On the freedom of a Christian’ led to his excommunication in 1521
Book criticised and challenged religion and beliefs and political and economic beliefs-
asserted a view of individualism
Challenging church was heresy- punishment was death by fire
Invention of printing press meant by 1529 communications had improved and ideas
from Europe were gaining prevalence in London and East Anglia
England and Europe:
Merchants involved in woollen trade helped to spread ideas
, England- integral part of Christendom- had a widespread diplomatic network
Viewpoints of merchants depended on their trade, the views of the clergy were
influenced by Rome
Henry VIII claimed title of King of France- wanted to regain territories along with his
nobility lost in the Hundred Years War
Lost all his father’s money in 2 failed invasions in the first ten years of his reign
Henry failed to raise taxes in the 1520s- led to more secure funding in the 1530s
In 1529- England only held Calais-
Battle between Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Francis I of France- fought in
Pavia in 1524- incarceration of Francis due to his defeat would’ve enabled Henr to
invade however he lacked the resources- Charles V continued through the Italians
states to occupy Rome and control the Papacy
Church and monarch interdependent- shown by Pope Leo X awarding Henry the title
of Defender of the Faith in response to work he did defeding the seven sacraments
against Martin Luther
Chapter 1: The political and social role of the church;
England and Rome- England one of the oldest Catholic countries- converted from paganism
in the seventh century. People believed they had a special relationship, as England is an
island
Churchmen as Royal Advisors:
Pope had great authority and prestige- king had to look to the Pope to secure his
authority- therefore kings were eager to show allegiance
Henry VII- built Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey- show the Tudor line’s loyalty
Church played role in politics:
Abbots and bishops- sat in the House of Lords
Decided on legislation and advised the king
Cardinal Wolsey:
Henry VIII’s chancellor:
As principle adviser to the king- responsible for day to day running of the coutry
Chancellor- ultimate authority over the legal system
Cardinal- significant authority over the church- elected by the pope
Archbishop of York- 2nd highest church position in the UK
Legatus a latere- right to act on behalf of the Pope
From 1514- Henry’s chief minister and most important person in England excluding
Henry
Known for exploiting his position to benefit himself and Henry
Described as being ‘very handsome, learned, and extremely eloquent’- by the
Venetian Ambassador
Also ‘detested by everyone’ and possessing ‘arrogance’ by the ambassador to the
Vatican
Church teachings on monarchical authority:
Church law- canon law- covered beliefs, teachings and practices of the church and
the Pope acted as the final arbitrator
, Pope could excommunicate the king if he was a tyrant or heretic
Interpretation of canon law depended on the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
Below the archbishops- archdioceses, dioceses, parishes- loyalty to the pope
Authority over the whole of society- 9,000 parishes- everyone was a parishioner
People attended church every Sunday- partaking in liturgy
Could be arrested and tried by church courts
Henry dependent on church for control- as biggest body of wide spread power
tangible to the population
Church- social centre of each parish
Illiterate peasants were told the laws through the church
Wall paintings showed repercussions for the breaking of the ten commandments
Social tensions eased as giving to the poor encouraged
Catholics believed in salvations- reformists believed in faith, sola fide- also didn’t
believe in purgatory
Wealth of the church:
Pluralism- clergy who held more than one parish in order to amass more money
Some of the taxes were sent on to Rome
1520s- Rome received £4500 in annual taxation from England, Henry was receiving
£12,500
Peter’s Pence- penny tax paid to Rome
Tithes- 1/10 of produce given to the church- intended to help the priest and poor,
but was often sold
Communities controlled by monastic laws- many communities less than 4 miles from
a monastery
Monasteries were extremely wealthy and had great economic and political power
Although monks had to swear an oath of poverty, monasteries accumulated great
wealth- gifts of silver and gold
Church courts:
Fined people for not attending church or breaking the ten commandments
Breaking of society’s moral code- adultery or slander- brought before church courts
If found guilty- could be fined or imprisoned, but not executed unless for heresy
Excommunication- individual couldn’t attend church, obtain forgiveness or
participate in mass
Church courts used to prove wills
Parish churches:
Magnificent buildings
Built of stone
Area divided by a screen- area for laity, and area reserved for the choir and clergy
High altar decorated with hangings of rich fabrics and candles- focus of the church
Reredos- highly decorated screen behind the altar
High altar- used for masses on Sunday and holy days- reserved sacrament was held
there
During the week- side altars held for masses- often in chantry chapels
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