spread of protestant reformation

Spread of the Reformation

1. Radical Reformers

A. Hundreds of new Protestant sects sprang up, way more radical than Luther.

B. One such sect was the Anabaptists.

• A number of radical Protestant groups rejected infant baptism.

• Infants, they argued, were too young to understand what it meant to accept the Christian faith.

• These people became known as the Anabapists.

B. Anabaptists soon became too different; they wanted to abolish private property.

C. Even Luther urged Lutherans to join Catholics in suppressing the Anabaptists.

• Dirk Willems was a martyred Anabaptist who is most famous for, after his escape from prison, turning around to rescue his pursuer, who had fallen through thin ice while chasing him.

• After his harrowing escape and recapture, he was burned at the stake near his hometown on 16 May 1569.

• Today, he is one of the most celebrated martyrs among Anabaptists.

2. The English ReformationA. Henry VIII, at first,

was against the Protestants.

B. In 1527, Henry wanted to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, because she could not produce a male heir; the Pope said no!

C. In 1534, the Act of Supremacy made Henry VIII the leader of the Church of England (Anglican Church); whoever did not accept this was executed.

D. Henry then married Anne Boleyn, who gave birth to the future Elizabeth I.

• Many loyal Catholics refused to accept the Act of Supremacy and were executed for treason.

• Among them was Sir Thomas More, the great English humanist.

• More was later canonized, or recognized as a saint, by the Catholic Church.

3. Edward VIA. When Henry died in

1547, Edward VI, a devout Protestant, inherited the throne.

B. Under his short rule, the Book of Common Prayer was created.

C. It was a mix of Catholic and Protestant beliefs.

4. Queen Mary I – “Bloody Mary”

A. Upon Edward’s death, Mary became Queen.

B. She tried to restore England to the Catholic faith, and burned hundreds of Protestants at the stake.

5. The Elizabethan SettlementA. As Queen, Elizabeth

compromised between Protestant and Catholic beliefs.

B. The Anglican Church followed Catholic practices, but she was its head.

C. The Book of Common Prayer was reintroduced.