Edward VI

Influence of Thomas Cranmer

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Henry made Thomas Cranmer, who was sympathetic to Lutheranism, Archbishop of Canterbury. His first task was to produce the Ten Articles of Religion. Five of them were doctrinal in nature including authorizing the use of the Bible, reaffirming the three great creeds, and setting the decisions of the first four ecumenical councils as standards. The other five articles were ceremonial. The Articles were published in the king’s name and with them a set of Royal Injunctions, directing the clergy in the use of the Articles and the Bible. The Injunctions gave practical advice to the parish priests about conducting worship services and instructing the people in religious fundamentals. Henry authorized the public use in the churches of a recent Bible translation which Matthew Coverdale had made on the basis of Tyndale’s translation. Yet, the people were not satisfied with the Ten Articles or the Bible so Henry and Cranmer tried again with Thirteen Articles, and this time the influence of the Augsburg Confession was apparent.

Impact: The death of Henry in 1547 made it possible for Cranmer and King Edward VI to carry the ecclesiastical changes further. Cranmer directed the clergy to read the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer weekly in the churches, together with a chapter from the Old Testament and another from the New. A new edition of the Bible, known as the Great Bible, was placed in every church, and the priests were supplied with homilies for popular instruction. The organization of the church was left virtually unchanged, however. The two archbishops of Canterbury and York remained under the pope, and the Episcopal arrangement of bishops was not abolished. The king continued to be the head of the Church and made the appointments of bishops and archbishops.

Scottish Reformation

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In Scotland prior to the Reformation immoral conduct among the clergy was worse than in most countries. In time they provoked a reaction in Scotland as elsewhere. Protestant influences began to seep through from the Continent by way of trade routes and the universities. Books and pamphlets, ballads and plays, teaching and preaching, had each sown seeds of religious revolt. Parliamentary prohibitions of Protestant literature were ineffective. Patrick Hamilton, a university-bred Scotch noble, gave his life for the faith. George Wishart was another convert who preached until he too was seized, tried, and burned. A companion of Wishart on his preaching tours was John Knox. Born in Haddington, Scotland, and educated at the University of Glasgow, Knox was originally a Roman Catholic priest. In 1543 he converted to Protestantism and spread the message of the Reformation until his capture by the French in 1547 when they attacked Saint Andrews. He was forced to labor in a French galley for almost two years until Edward VI, the king of England, secured his release. He moved to England and became the royal chaplain in 1551. When Catholic Queen Mary took the throne in 1553 he fled to Frankfurt and later to Geneva. Here he met Calvin and began studying his doctrines. He preached widely throughout Europe for a number of years until his return to Scotland in 1559. He denounced the Catholic Church and Scotland’s Catholic regent, Mary of Guise. He supported the Protestant revolt against the regency, a hopeless cause until England’s Elizabeth I, who had succeeded her half-sister Mary, agreed to support them. After the death of Mary of Guise, the Protestants took control of the Scottish government, and Knox’s Confession of Faith was adopted by the Parliament. Control was lost briefly upon the return of yet another Catholic Mary, Mary Stuart, who reigned from 1560 to 1567. She had Knox arrested for treason, although he was later acquitted. He spent his remaining years after Mary’s death preaching and writing.

Impact: From Scotland, Calvinism was spread around the world through aggressive mission activities.

Knox, John

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John Knox (c. 1514-1572) was born in Haddington, Scotland and educated at the University of Glasgow. He was originally a Roman Catholic priest. In 1543 he converted to Protestantism due, primarily, to the preaching of the reformer George Wishart. Although Wishart was eventually executed for heresy, Knox continued preaching until his capture by the French in 1547 when they attacked Saint Andrews. He was forced to labor in a French galley for almost two years until Edward VI, the king of England, secured his release. He moved to England and became the royal chaplain in 1551. When Catholic Queen Mary took the throne in 1553 he fled to Frankfurt and later to Geneva. Here he met Calvin and began studying his doctrines. He preached widely throughout Europe for a number of years until his return to Scotland in 1559. He denounced the Catholic Church and Scotland’s Catholic regent, Mary of Guise. He supported the Protestant revolt against the regency, a hopeless cause until England’s Elizabeth I, who had succeeded her half-sister Mary, agreed to support them. After the death of Mary of Guise, the Protestants took control of the Scottish government and Knox’s Confession of Faith was adopted by the Parliament. Control was lost briefly upon the return of yet another Catholic Mary, Mary Stuart, who reigned from 1560 to 1567. She had Knox arrested for treason, although he was later acquitted. He spent his remaining years after Mary’s death preaching and writing. He was the father of the Scottish Reformation and the architect of various branches of the Presbyterian and Reformed churches that exist today.