Religion in the reign of Edward VI

When Henry VIII died, his son, Edward, became king. Edward was only nine
years old. He could not rule the country by himself. Most of the work usually
done by the king was done by one of Edward’s uncles, the Duke of Somerset
(Edward Seymour). Somerset was a Protestant who thought that the changes
made in the church after the Reformation had not gone far enough. With the
support of the young king he set about making England a more Protestant
country.
At the time Christians believed that the way they worshipped God was
important. They believed that if they worshipped God in the wrong way they
would be likely to go to hell rather than heaven. Until the Reformation all
people in England had worshipped in the same way, the way of the Catholic
Church. After the reformation the church services were changed a little, but
they were still very similar to the old services.
Henry VIII had made the churches hold their services in English; but he did not
change anything else. Beyond this few people would have noticed many
differences to the way religion was practised. Many people in England still
thought of themselves as Catholics. Edward and his advisers wanted to change
all this. They had heard about a modern form of Christianity spreading across
Europe led by people like the German monk Martin Luther.
Under the influence of the Duke of Somerset and the Archbishop of
Canterbury Thomas Cranmer; Edward VI became a Protestant. To reflect the
change in his religious beliefs, Edward ordered that churches across the
country be changed.
Expensive decorations in churches, like gold ornaments, statues of the virgin
and paintings of saints were removed. Beautiful stained glass windows were
smashed and replaced with clear glass. Walls were whitewashed so they were
plain and simple. There were to be no distractions from the word of God in
Edward’s Protestant churches.
In 1547 a book of Protestant sermons (lessons) was printed in English which
had to be read in all churches. In 1549 a prayer book was introduced with new
services for all churches. The changes also included moving the altar to the
centre of the church (previously in the East), plain clothes for the priest and an
end to parts of the service which were just English translations of the old
Catholic services.
 Religion in the reign of Edward VI.

All questions to be written in full sentences in books.

1. Task: create a table showing the changes King Edward made to the
church in England (1 column for before and 1 for the changes).

Use the information sheet and the church change source to help.

Catholic Protestant

2. Do you think the painting source was painted by a Protestant or

Catholic? Give reasons for your answer (use PEE - Point Evidence
Explain).

The source was most likely painted by a ……

The source suggests this by showing…

The source also suggests this by showing…

Therefore it is most likely a …… that painted the source because...

Extension Questions (write EXT in your book)

3. How do you think people who preferred the Catholic style of

church service would have felt about the changes in Edward VI’s
reign?

4. What do you think the consequences of these changes might have

been?

5. In your opinion do you think Edward VI would have been a popular

king or not? Explain why.