Year 8 - History
The beliefs of the Church of England 1534-1558
Henry VIII and the Reformation: how unusual was the English Reformation?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the European Reformation and its influence on Henry VIII's break with Rome. In doing so, pupils compare the English Reformation to the ones experienced on the continent.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how the beliefs of the Church of England changed based on who was the monarch at the time.
Key Notes
- Henry kept some ideas of Catholicism, like transubstantiation, and executed people who deviated from it.
- The closure of monasteries in England was known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
- The Dissolution of Monasteries and religious changes led to a rebellion in 1536 known as the 'Pilgrimage of Grace'.
- Henry's son, Edward VI, made England more Protestant and introduced the Book of Common Prayer.
- Henry's daughter, Mary I, was Catholic and restored Catholicism in England.
Vocabulary To Learn
- monastery: a building occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows
- dissolution: the act or process of bringing to an end an official organisation
- uprising: an act of resistance or rebellion
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- People decide for themselves what religious beliefs they hold.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Henry kept some ideas of Catholicism, like transubstantiation, and executed people who deviated from it. The closure of monasteries in England was known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'monastery'
a building occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: People decide for themselves what religious beliefs they hold. Correction: For much of English history, people had to believe what the monarch told them to believe, else they would be killed. This insistence upon belief became more relaxed only in the relatively recent past.
More Lessons In This Unit
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