change and continuity in doctrine

• Liturgy, the Eucharist and the Bible

  Liturgy and Eucharist:

  • post-1529: liturgy largely unchanged services focused on Eucharist (mass) in Latin
  • efforts for more teaching, but limited by uneducated clergy
  • transubstantiation central to the mass, seven sacraments remained important
  • liturgy: sung processions with confession and prayers for monarchy
• Liturgy, the Eucharist and the Bible

  Liturgy and the Eucharist:

  Henry VIII's Religious views-

  • 1538: trial of John Lambert for denying transubstantiation, Henry affirms his belief in real presence of Christ
  • Lambert executed, Henry issues proclamation upholding transubstantiation and clerical celibacy, and forbidding heretical literature
• Liturgy, the Eucharist and the Bible

  The Bible:

  • 1536: Cromwell's injunction for English bibles in each parish
  • 1537: Matthew Bible published, distributed in all parishes, commissioned from Miles Coverdale
  • early 1540s: controversy over Protestant influences in translations, Henry limits access to the Bible to maintain control
• Doctrinal Disputes:

  • 1536-47: significant changes in religious beliefs and practices
  • competing influences: Cromwell's reformist faction vs those wanting a return to Rome
  • G. W. Bernard: Henry the main architect, changes seen as coherent development for the church of England
  • 1540: execution of three Lutherans and three Catholics shows Henry's controls
• The Ten Articles (1536)

  • first attempt to define beliefs for the Church of England
  • emphasized sacraments of Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, but ambiguous on other sacraments
  • affirmed real presence in the Eucharist, need for good works, and limited prayer to saints and images
  • authority lay with Henry, Cromwell's injunction made them binding
• The Bishop's Book (1537)

  • called by Cromwell, written by bishops with Lutheran influences
  • emphasized salvation by faith, no mention of transubstantiation
  • Henry disapproved, revoked authorization three years later, critiqued its theology
• The Six Articles & The King's Book

  The Six Articles (1539):

  • defended against heresy, reaffirmed Catholic doctrines like transubstantiation, private Mass, curricular confession, clerical celibacy
  • intended to show foreign rulers that England remained essentially Catholic
• The King's Book (1543)

  • revision of the Bishop's Book, reaffirmed traditional Catholic beliefs
  • emphasized masses for the dead, rejected Lutheran views on justification by faith alone
  • restricted English Bible reading to nobles, examined and punished reformers
• Continuities and Changes in Practices

  • Cranmer developed some liturgical reforms, but Latin Mass remained central
  • 1544: english liturgy introduced, 1545: King's Prymer for schoolmasters, book of Homilies
  • attack on chantries despite the King's Book emphasizing masses for the dead
  • 1540-1547: dissolution of chantries to fund wars, similar to dissolution of monasteries