The Reformation in England |
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A Story on two levelsThe story of the Reformation in England is really two stories at once. The first one is a story about ordinary people. The second is about Kings and Queens, and how they made changes in the way the Church worshipped and worked. |
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Right through this period, ordinary people were divided in their opinions. To some, the old ways were best, and changes were disliked. These changes included new forms of service and the loss of some of the elaborate clothes worn by the priest. Monasteries were closed, and sometimes destroyed. Often this caused distress: at least once it led almost to revolution. But, all the time, the movement for change was getting stronger. It affected every level of society. One of the things that brought it about was the spread of ideas from the Continent, ideas like those Luther had put forward. Merchants who brought goods in their ships also smuggled in Lutheran books. |
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Netley Abbey in Hampshire, closed by Henry VIII in 1536 Photograph © Netley Abbey Tartan Army, 2001-2003 |
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| Some of its strength came from earlier Christian teachers, and their followers. The most important was John Wyclif, who had lived in the 14th century. He had pressed for the translating of the Bible into English. He and his followers, the "Lollards", believed in the importance of reading the Bible in your own language. They also thought preaching was very important, and wanted the Church to be reformed. Even well over a century later, there were people who stayed loyal to these beliefs. |
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John Wyclif Photograph © www.herodote.net |
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