What was the short-term significance of the Edwardian reformation?

Edward VI’s reign lasted just 6 years, such a short time in power and at a very young age meant that he had very little time to have a significant effect on England’s policy of religion. However he did make some important changes. Edward was a strong Protestant, along with his Protector the Duke of Somerset and the Duke Northumberland. They were ultimately responsible for the small changes made to religious practice. Four contemporary sources support both arguments of whether there were or were not any short-term significant effects as a result of the Edwardian reformation. This reformation is responsible for the reaffirming and finalising of the religious changes brought about by Henry’s reformation, the move towards Protestantism. Source 15.8 supports the idea that Edward’s reign was met with relatively low opposition when it says, ‘during the whole time of the six years of this king, much tranquillity was granted to the whole Church of England’ and consequently implies that the people welcomed the new policies. In turn it can be inferred that England was more Protestant leaning by the end of his fathers reign and so Edward’s time on the thrown was vital in grounding it into everyday life. The measures taken by Edward’s advisors began with the order for all clergymen to preach in English and have an English bible along with Protestant literature in every parish church. This was called the Royal Injunctions taking place in 1547. The effect of this was that England was moving even further away from Rome because Latin had now been firmly shunned. The word of God was now accessible to everyone, not just the educated. Add to this, the Chantries Act of 1547 which revived Henry’s last parliament but also called for the condemnation of prayers for the dead. D. Loades comments that, ‘the Chantries Act was more significant as a gesture of reform’. This was another step towards actively making Protestantism more evident to the ordinary person. However, the most significant short-term measure actually turned out to be a long-term significance. The introduction of the first English Prayer book outlined the liturgy to be followed in services. It was manually written out by Cranmer, a survivor of Henry’s period of tyranny against his own advisors. It became law under the act of uniformity in 1549. It is significant in that some of the processes written in it are still used today. Cranmer designed it to be politically acceptable not based on his own beliefs.
This may be why Protestants considered it to allow for Catholic ideas still. It wasn’t until the Second book of Common Prayer was published in January 1552 did it become a fully Protestant piece of literature. This was the document which solidified the reform of the English Church from Catholicism to Protestantism. D. Loades agrees with this statement as it says, ‘with the advent of the second Prayer book the worship of the English Church could be described as fully reformed’. Therefore, there were short-term significances of the Edwardian Reformation as well as short-term.

Sources 16.7, 16.8 and 15.7 collectively suggest the reformation wasn’t significant in the short-term. Contrary to the previous argument, parliamentary action was also taken that made the desired dominant religion-Protestantism-unclear of its principles and practice. For example, the repealing of the Act of Six Articles re-established the key Catholic doctrines, therefore leaving the church without an official doctrine. A letter sent to Protector Somerset (source 15.7) reinforces this point, it says, ‘look well whether you have law or religion at home, and i fear you shall find neither’. In late 1547 the Treason Act put in place by Henry was also repealed. This allowed people to discuss religion freely without fear of arrest and imprisonment. Consequently, radicals leapt at the opportunity causing trouble over which religion the country promoted. The government had just stripped itself of the power to deal with the outbursts. This is evident in the rebellions of 1547-49. However, these were not spurred on my religious complaints, but political ones, in particular, over the policy of enclosure which was causing much discomfort across the country. Sources 16.7 and 16.8 demonstrate that the main concern of these rebels was enclosure and that they wanted their land back. 16.7 is a list of the demands made by the Kett rebels, it says, ‘we pray…no man shall enclose any more’ it goes on to say, ‘we pray that all marsh that are held by the King’s majesty be free rent’. Nicholas Sotherton wrote in 1549 (source 16.8), ‘For they cryid out of the Gentlemen as well for that they would not pull downe theyr enclosed groundis.’ These sources commend that the reformation had little significance because the only opposition it was met by was that of a political nature not a religious one. Focusing again on the changes made by Parliament, in September 1548 it ordered that no preaching was to be done until a new liturgy was produced. This was a clear sign that the government felt the situation was slipping out of control.

It wasn’t until the December of that year that the Second prayer book was published which meant that there had been two months worth of unclear, disorganised religious practice. More significantly however is that it made very little difference to the ordinary citizen. In conclusion, there was a short-term significance to the Edwardian reformation. It allowed for the break with Rome during Henry’s rule to finally become settled and by 1553 when Edward died, England was officially a Protestant country. Crucially, this reformation was a diplomatic statement but not one that significantly affected the public. Another important point to remember however that is no one was executed or persecuted for their beliefs. The only bloodshed that did take place was a result of the rebellions which were not religion based which suggests that the ordinary person wasn’t affected on a dramatic scale.