- Level: University Degree
- Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
- Word count: 1370
In what ways has Roman Catholicism been an example of both religious tradition and dissent in England?
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Introduction
In what ways has Roman Catholicism been an example of both religious tradition and dissent in England? Part 1 - Essay Plan Tradition 1533 despite break from Rome religious practice was largely unchanged. 1553-58 Mary I attempt to re-establish Catholicism, Cranmer executed. 1563 Elizabeth I retains hierarchy of bishops in CofE and some other Catholic elements 1605 Tradition = Superstition Dissent = Tradition New Dissent split between Prot + Cath Dissent 1533 renounced authority of pope, dissolved monasteries, Thomas Cranmer (Protestant) becomes archbishop of Canterbury 1549 Cranmer's new Protestant order of service imposed, revised 1552 (more Protestant) 1559-63 Protestant worship enforced but with Catholic elements, in an attempt to find middle ground. 1571 Edmund Grindal (reading 3.2) destruction of anything related to "superstition" Paragraph 1 - Introduction - when did dissent start? What caused it? Paragraph 2 - exploration of tradition and beginning of dissent Paragraph 3 - Finding the balance of tradition and dissent Paragraph 4 - All change, dissent now tradition, new dissent. Paragraph 5 - stability in 18th Century Paragraph 6 - Conclusion OPTION 1 In what ways has Roman Catholicism been an example of both religious tradition and dissent in England? Part 2 - Essay The Roman Catholic Church was widely unchallenged in England until 1533. ...read more.
Middle
This radical reversal of all of the dissenting policies led to the abolition of Cranmer's prayer book and order of service, and the summary execution of Cranmer himself, while many of the other leaders of the Protestant movement went into exile. Whilst the Roman Catholic Church's revival in England was accepted by the many of the population the country was still divided, the revival was however short lived as Mary I was only on the throne for 5 years before her death and succession by the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I. It was under Elizabeth I that the Church of England began to find some stability and a balance between the tradition and dissent. That is not to say however that Elizabeth I was not a strong Protestant, but she was also a strong politician and recognised that the church was still very much divided between the traditional ways and the Protestant's dissenting ways, it fell to her then to try and strike an amicable balance between the two views. Using religion as a tool to unite her subjects, Elizabeth I began to reintroduce the Protestant ideals but not as strongly as many would have liked. The Protestant Book of Common Prayer was re-introduced and its use enforced by the act of uniformity in 1559, whilst documents like these and the Thirty-Nine Articles of 1563 were heavily Protestant, they also included certain Catholic principles, the hierarchy of bishops for instance. ...read more.
Conclusion
This demonstrates the existence of another dissenting force, the hard line Protestants. With the return of the monarchy in 1660 with the rise of King Charles II the church returned to the new traditional way, bishops were reinstated, a new prayer book published and all dissenting clergymen removed from office. Many of the new religions were however outlawed and persecuted as they were seen as Dissenters. The church continued in a state of flux from then until 1688 when Mary II took the throne and the Protestant Church of England was reaffirmed, the conflicts in the church from this point onwards were greatly reduced. In conclusion I believe that at the start of the 16th Century, Roman Catholicism in England was an example of tradition, it had been the main religious factor in English life for approximately 1000 years, from 1533 onwards however the dissenting force of Protestantism gained power and support. During the 17th Century however the Protestant Church of England was seen as being traditional and was the most accepted religion in England, it was at this point then that Roman Catholicism began to be an example of dissent. I therefore conclude that Roman Catholicism has displayed both tradition and dissent in relation to the religious views of the Church of England. ...read more.
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