8 The first night of the Anglicanism course was on the Church’s history and structures and given in five parts. The notes from that talk will be featured in the Newsletter over the next few months. - by David Phillips, chaplain of Holy Trinity Utrecht this in Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21, how In England the ongoing struggle for could a Pope trump Holy Scripture? reforms to the abuses of of the Henry wondered if the lack of a male heir Church under the authority of the Pope in over 20 years of marriage to Catherine Rome came to a head in the 16th was God’s judgement on this decision. century, as it did in other European He brought in a bright young Cambridge countries. Finally under Elizabeth I, it professor to argue the case Thomas – normally broke its ties. Cranmer, who he later made Archbishop of Canterbury. OK, the catalyst was Elizabeth’s father, Who were the English Reformers? Henry VIII’s, desire for a divorce, but it was not merely to satisfy his lust! Nation William Tyndale (c. 1494–1536 – states were arising, popes were meddling martyred) translated and had published deeply in the affairs of state, there was the whole Bible into English, something much clerical abuse and confusion. How forbidden at the time on punishment of to manage the Reformation in England death. He had to live on the continent in without the nation breaking into civil war, exile and was finally captured in Antwerp. as was happening on the Continent, was He had also opposed Henry’s annulment of the utmost concern to the monarchs in and marriage to Anne as unscriptural. His final prayer before being strangled Europe (though it did finally happen and burned at the stake, which he a hundred years later in England). shouted out, was, open the King of “Lord, England’s eyes!” Three years after his Henry had been given dispensation by death, King Henry VIII published the first the Pope to marry his brother’s wife, the authorized Bible in English, called The sister of the King of Spain, Catherine of Great Bible (1539), based heavily on Aragon. But Scripture argues against
8 The first night of the Anglicanism course was on the Church’s history and structures and given in five parts. The notes from that talk will be featured in the Newsletter over the next few months. - by David Phillips, chaplain of Holy Trinity Utrecht In England the ongoing struggle for reforms to the abuses of of the Church under the authority of the Pope in Rome came to a head in the 16th century, as it did in other European countries. Finally under Elizabeth I, it normally broke its ties. OK, the catalyst was Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII’s, desire for a divorce, but it was not merely to satisfy his lust! Nation states were arising, popes were meddling deeply in the affairs of state, there was much clerical abuse and confusion. How to manage the Reformation in England without the nation breaking into civil war, as was happening on the Continent, was of the utmost concern to the monarchs in Europe (though it did finally happen a hundred years later in England). Henry had been given dispensation by the Pope to marry his brother’s wife, the sister of the King of Spain, Catherine of Aragon. But Scripture argues against this in Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21, how could a Pope trump Holy Scripture? Henry wondered if the lack of a male heir over 20 years of marriage to Catherine was God’s judgement on this decision. He brought in a bright young Cambridge professor to argue the case – Thomas Cranmer, who he later made Archbishop of Canterbury. Who were the English Reformers? William Tyndale (c. 1494–1536 – martyred) translated and had published the whole Bible into English, something forbidden at the time on punishment of death. He had to live on the continent in exile and was finally captured in Antwerp. He had also opposed Henry’s annulment and marriage to Anne as unscriptural. His final prayer before being strangled and burned at the stake, which he shouted out, was, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!” Three years after his death, King Henry VIII published the first authorized Bible in English, called The Great Bible (1539), based heavily on