Henry VIII's Religion, Ideas and Reform

• Who was the most significant voice in England education?

  John Colet
• How did Colet show his initiative?

  1. Chose men from the guild instead of the clergy to be school governors

  2. School curriculum included some works of Erasmus and humanist principles
• Which two schools were at the front of educational reform?

  St Paul's and Magdalen College School by adopting Platonist educational principles
• What is Platonism?


  An idea from Plato that the function of education was to produce 'philosopher kings,' pupils who should've the idea of public service instilled into them
• How significant were humanist influences?

  Very it influenced future boys who'd become prominent in politics and religion. Having a lasting hold on university curricula.
• What were the limitations of Humanism?

  It's scope was limited and change stemmed from new religious thinking rather than scholarly renaissance humanism
• How did Renaissance ideas influence English culture?

  -increased knowledge of classical learning among elites

  -increased humanist influence on education

  -Henry promoted new ideas and humanism

  -Crown needed educated diplomats to communicate with their foreign counterparts
• What art forms were prominent in Henry's reign?

  Perpendicular Gothic and Renaissance. The contrast in styles is seen in the Lady Chapel (Perpendicular Gothic) with the tombs of Henry's parents (Renaissance). And King's College, Cambridge
• What style dominated painters?

  'northern Renaissance' which had more Gothic influences than the Italian Renaissance. The best painter was Hans Holbein
• What other art forms were popular?

  Tapestries which were Flemish in origin and displayed medieval chivalry.
• How did Henry's building taste differ to Wolsey's?

  Henry showed a continued liking for the Gothic compared to Wolsey's classical design of Hampton Court.
• What was the most cultural influence on England?

  Italian Renaissance influences were becoming fashionable, but England's main cultural links reflected the close commercial ties between England and the Low Countries.
• Who assisted Henry between 1532-1540 with reforming the Church?

  Thomas Cromwell and Archbishop Cranmer
• What were the weaknesses of the Church in the early years of Henry's reign?

  Corruption, Anticlericalism and the Decline of monasticism
• What types of corruption were in the Church?

  Pluralism- receiving profits from more than one post

  Simony- purchase of Church office

  Non-residence- recieving the profits of a post you can't perform the duties of
• Who was the main example of corruption in the Church?

  Thomas Wolsey
• What is Anticlericalism?


  Opposition to the Church's role in political and other non-religious matters
• Who was the worst example of Anticlericalism?

  Richard Hunne's tortuous death that was covered up as a suicide
• Why was monasticism criticised?

  Some of the larger monasteries had become substantial businesses with huge resources. Although the Observant Franciscans and Bridgettines were exceptions.
• Was there any evidence of early Protestantism/ Evangelism?

  Following Martin Luther's attack on the Catholic church in 1517 there was little evidence. With some intellectuals in the 1520s meeting up for religious discussions-one member becoming future Archbishop Cranmer.
• How were Erastians and Reformers linked?

  Thomas More and Bishop Fisher were humanists that opposed the reform and died. Not all reformers were humanists and many humanists either weren't reformers or went along with them to protect themselves such as Bishop Gardiner.
• What evidence is there of humanist influence in the later years of Henry's reign?

  Cranmer enjoyed the King's favour and both Edward and Elizabeth had humanist tutors.
• What was important about Erasmian reformers?


  They held a position that could influence the policy-making of Edward. Many of which were supplanted by more radical reformers
• How did the Church's structure change?

  1.King became Head of the Church

  2. Cromwell became Vicegerent in Spirituals

  3.Six new dioceses created
• What was the significance of the changes made to the Church's structure?

  1. Henry as HoC was confirmed by Act of Supremacy

  2. Cromwell was 2nd to the King

  3. It was an attempt to improve church administration
• What was the Valor Ecclesiasticus 1535?


  Discovered how wealthy the church was. Which led to the visitations of Monasteries
• What was the Act of Parliament 1536?


  Dissolved smaller Monasteries- blaming them for the slipping standards of monasteries
• What was the follow up Act of Parliament 1539?


  Dissolved the remaining monasteries by 1540 all religious houses were dissolved.
• How did Henry attack traditional religious practices?

  1536 the first Royal Injunctions which restricted the number of holy days, and discouraged pilgrimages
• How did Henry continue to attack religious traditions?

  1538 second Royal Injunctions with pilgrimages and the veneration (honouring with awe of a religious object) of images and relics were condemned
• What did the 1538 Injunctions encourage?


  Each parish to have an English bible-little of whom would've been able to read.
• What did the Great Bible of 1539 depict?

  Henry offering the word of God to Cranmer and Cromwell.
• What came of Henry's fear of the incorrect reading of the Great Bible?


  The Act for the Advancement of True Religion 1543 which restricted the reading of the Great Bible to upper-class men
• What did Henry fear would happen if the wrong people read his bible?

  Social chaos and disorder
• How did the Reformation change doctrine?

  1536 Ten Articles

  1537 Bishop's Book

  1539 Six Articles Act

  1543 King's Book
• How did the Ten Articles change doctrine?

  Made it so there was only three sacraments: Baptism, Penance and Eucharist. And showed Lutheran and Catholic influences.
• How did the Bishop's Book change doctrine?

  Restored the four sacraments omitted from the Ten Articles. And showed to be a more conservative version of the Ten Articles
• How did the Six Articles change doctrine?

  It reasserted Catholic doctrine as the denial of transubstantiation was heretical. And was a triumph for conservatives.
• How did the King's Book change doctrine?

  Revised the Bishop's Book. And was largely conservative but with Lutheran hints.
• What slowed the Reformation?

  The Act of Six Articles and the fall of Cromwell in 1540