LEE UNIVERSITY

HENRY VIII AND THE REFORMATION

PRESENTED, ROBERT BARNETT Ph.D.

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR HIST485: MEDIEVAL ENGLAND

ANDREW H. DAVIDSON

15 JULY 2010

KING HENRY VIII AND THE REFORMATION

For many years leading up to the reign of King Henry VIII, zealous souls were searching more than ever for a meaningful faith-based life for themselves and all of society. The people of England were becoming more and more confused about what the Church actually taught and were developing skeptical feelings towards the spiritual and physical power used and displayed by the clergy.[1] These feelings of the English people were reaching an all time high around the time that Henry VIII had succeeded his …show more content…

Even though England had split off from the Roman church and was on the brink of reformation, King Henry VIII made virtually no changes in the Church of England.[20] The only major difference from the Catholic Church was that now the king was the head instead of the pope and English Bibles were being used.[21] King Henry VIII reaffirmed his commitment to Catholic practices by passing the Six Articles. The Six Articles validated the transformation of the Eucharist, confession, private masses, celibate vows, and the sanctity of the Eucharist cup.[22] Despite the fact that King Henry had made no real changes to the church, his break from the Roman Church stirred up a revolution in the making. Ann did not produce a son for King Henry, but she provided him with another daughter named Elizabeth.[23] Ann was sympathetic with Protestant ideas and her daughter would eventually play a key role in Protestant England.[24] King Henry became displeased with Ann, accused her of adultery, and had her beheaded in 1536.[25] Still in search of a son, King Henry VIII married Jane Seymour. She finally gave him the son and heir to the throne that he had been hoping for, Edward IV.[26] When Henry VIII died in 1547, Edward IV succeeded the