The Reformation and Puritanism in England

2002-10-19

I. The English Reformation

A. Background

The fourth branch of the Protestant Reformation. Similar to the Luther reformation, that it was conservative. Depended on the current ruler of England.

There had been preparation with this. John Wycliffe and his lay preachers called Lollards. Emphasized the authority of the Scripture, and personal faith in Christ. Rulers of England and the middle class fostered a nationalism against papal interference. There were the Biblical humanists of the Renaissance in England. John Colet, begun to study Paul’s epistles, literal interpretation. Translations of the scriptures. William Tyndale, he died for his work of translation. First edition in 1525 smuggled into England. Last prayer, open the king of England’s eyes. Miles Coverdale bible, 1535. Luther’s writings translated and widely circulated.

B. Political Break with Rome under Henry VIII

Henry VII, Henry VIII’s father, was the founder of the Tudor dynasty. Tried to strengthen his monarchy by arranged marriages with other royal families. Eldest son, Arthur, married off to Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon. Arthur died. Got permission for his younger son Henry to marry Catherine. Special permission because RCC law forbade brother to marry widow. King Henry VIII. Not a happy marriage. No males survived. Daughter Mary survived. Thought that this was God’s judgment on him because of this marriage (though it was really syphilis). Gave affections to another, Anne Bolelyn. Appealed to pope to have marriage annulled, since it was never a true marriage, not legitimate. Tried to persuade English clergy instead when pope declined. 1532, Henry got the clergy to accept Henry as head of church in England. The archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declared the marriage invalid, and he married Anne Bolelyn. 1534, Parliament passed a series of acts that separated England from Rome. Act of Supremacy, declared the king the head of the Church of England. Monasteries, about 600, were ordered to be closed, and the government took their wealth. Parliament passed a new creed, called the Six Articles, 1539. Reaffirmed the RCC beliefs. Anglican Church is grown, just under the king, just a political break, still RCC in doctrine.

C. Religious Reformation under Edward VI

Henry VIII marital problems continued. Daughter Elizabeth the only child. Had Anne accused of adultery and executed her. Married Jane Seymour. Finally a son was born, named Edward, named successor. Edward VI. Jane died of natural causes. Married Anne of Cleaves, divorced her, and married two others.

Edward VI, 1546-53. Came to throne at age of 9. Needed others to rule for him since he was young. Advisors brought about thorough Protestant changes.

Abolished communion in one kind (bread only), clergy celibacy, services of church in English, book of common prayer. New creed, 42 articles. The young king died, elder sister came to throne, Mary Tudor. She was a strong Roman catholic, she was Spanish. She married the current king of Spain. Ruled from 1553-8. Tried to reverse all the reforms. Submission to the hope, married clergy had to put away wives. 300 Protestants were burned, including Thomas Cranmer. Mary was called Bloody Mary. Many fled the country. Mary died in 1558, a compromise came with Elizabeth I

D. Compromise of Elizabeth I

She would have to be a Protestant because the pope did not recognize the marriage of her parents as legal. She was considered an illegitimate child. Chose a moderate Protestant course. Changes: act of supremacy changed in 1559. King was supreme governor of this realm. Act of uniformity, put into use the book of common prayer with only slight changes. New creed, 39 Articles, not Catholic. There was papal opposition. 1570, the pope excommunicated her, and released subjects to follow her rule. Elizabeth retaliated, 125 Jesuits were executed. The pope answered, got Phillip II of Spain to send a fleet of ships, the Invincible Armada, but a storm hit and destroyed most of the ships, and the English seadogs defeated the rest. Last hope for regaining England was lost. The Church of England turned against Catholic clergy in the land. Some wanted to put Mary Stuart on the throne. That ended when Elizabeth had her executed in 1587.

Elizabeth was moderate in Protestantism. Didn’t satisfy everybody.

II. Dissenters from the Church of England

A. The Puritans

Objections: Wanted to purify the English Church from Romish forms. Liturgy, vestments, saints days, kneeling for communion, all vestiges from RCC. Stricter observance of Sunday, they called it the Sabbath. Consistent way of life. Wanted a different form of church government. The original form was Episcopal. Puritans did not like this. Some of them wanted a Presbyterian, and some congregational. More Calvinistic theology wanted.

They were strong in the middle class. Educationally there were well educated, and dominated Cambridge. Two leaders.

Thomas Cartwright. Theology professor at Cambridge. Calvinist. Advocating Presbyterian church government.

Henry Jacob. Founder of Independent group, congregational church government. This group came to dominate Puritanism in England.

They wanted to stay in the church and dominate it.

B. The Separatists

They needed to separate from the church of England. Voluntary church covenant where believers were bound together. Started their own congregations. Leaders:

Robert Browne: Followers had to flee to Holland. Robert returned and had a change of heart, was ordained into the Anglican church.

Separatist group founded in London: John Greenwood and Henry Barrow. These two were executed by hanging.

Another led by John Robinson, at Scrooby. Had to flee the country and came to Holland. They did not like staying there. They went to America. These were the Pilgrims of the Mayflower in 1620. Robinson stayed in England. Settled in Plymouth, MA.

C. The Puritan struggle with the Stuart kings

Henry VII, VIII, Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth, were the Tudors. Called upon the Stuarts for the next king since Elizabeth had no husband. James I. The Puritans petitioned him to make further reforms in the church. He would have none of that, believed he had a divine right of monarchy. The only good thing was the King James Bible, the Authorized Version, 1611. Civil war began with Charles I, James’ son. 20,000 Puritans left England for America, 1628-40. Civil war 1642, the king was defeated and taken captive, and in 1649 he was beheaded. The Puritans have the upper hand. In 1646, the Puritans draw up the Westminster Confession of Faith. Calvinistic. Followed by the Commonwealth, and then the Protectorate. The former: England was ruled by the House of Commons. All kinds of religious factions that held back progress. Protectorate set up, 1653. Oliver Cromwell set this up, and he was a Puritan, and was a military leader. Ruled as a dictator until death in 1658. The English did not like their extremes. Called back the Stuart prince, Charles II. He came back from exile. The same old policies as his predecessors.

The Puritans became such a strong faction that they came to control the English government. Their writings.

John Milton. Paradise Lost.
John Bunyon. Pilgrim’s Progress.