The Significance of the Main Developments in Religion (1529-1588)

Break with Rome (1529-1534)

Henry VIII’s Great Matter: His desire for an annulment and a male heir led to an irrevocable break from Rome, fundamentally changing England’s relationship with the European world and centralising power in the monarchy.
Act of Supremacy (1534): By making the monarch the Supreme Head of the Church of England, it strengthened the position of the monarchy, diminished the role of the Pope, and laid the foundation for the religious changes that followed.
Dissolution of the Monasteries: Enforced between 1536-1540, it led to a transfer of vast wealth and land from the Church to the Crown and nobility, resulted in significant societal and economic changes, and further ingrained Protestantism.

Reformation under Edward VI: Further measures were taken to establish Protestantism across England with changes to church services, such as the introduction of the Book of Common Prayer. This led to a shift towards English language services, and reduced the influence of Latin and the Pope.
1549 and 1552 Prayer Books: These significant aspects of reform brought about religious division, leading to the Western Rebellion against the changes.
Legitimacy of the Reformation: Edward’s religious changes were seen by some as the natural progression of Henry’s break from Rome, but they also raised a wider question about the rightful ruler of the Church—one that would remain even after his death.

Reversal under Mary I: By re-establishing Catholicism and the Pope’s authority via the Heresy Act, Mary I initiated religious upheaval, countering the earlier reformation efforts.
Persecution of Protestants: Often called the Marian Persecutions, these measures enhanced Mary’s image as ‘Bloody Mary’ and led to further disenchantment among English Protestants, inadvertently strengthening Protestantism’s stronghold.

Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement: Elizabeth I’s act of settling the religious divisions via the 1559 Act of Supremacy and Uniformity reestablished the independence of the Church of England from Rome. The changes were designed to be appealing to Catholics and Protestants to ease religious tensions.
Role of the Church: The Church under Elizabeth came to be used as a way to enforce conformity and loyalty to the monarchy. It became a central political institution with more Protestant leanings, while still retaining many Catholic elements.
Spanish Armada (1588): The defeat of the Spanish Armada, seen by many as a Catholic Crusade against Protestants, was interpreted as divine approval of the Protestant Church of England and significantly boosted national morale and unity.