Henry VIII: Anglicanism In England

Henry VIII was a critical figure in the development of Anglicanism. However, Anglicanism in England was, to an extent, in existence prior to his time. There were several contributing factors to the creation of Anglicanism as a religion, and despite his role, Henry VIII should not be regarded as the founder of Anglicanism. The term ‘Anglican’ derives from the Latin word, ‘anglicanus,’ which means ‘English;’ it was used to distinguish a faith from Roman Catholicism . The origins of Anglicanism as a faith are not entirely clear. The fifteenth and sixteenth century were periods of religious transition and development. There were several religious reformations taking place throughout Europe, such as the Protestant Reformation and Lollardism . The …show more content…
‘The old forms of Anglicanism are shattered’, as it eventually became a worldly religion, it had to adapt from the Church of England . While Henry VIII suppressed the Papacy in order to provide a solution for his immediate inconvenience, it is commonly held that regardless of his actions, there would have been a religious reformation within England and within the Catholic Church during this time . There were religious movements that took place prior to Henry VIII’s reform, for example, Martin Luther’s Protestant reform . In Germany, Martin Luther, a monk, started the Lutheran reformation introducing Protestantism in Europe, deviating from the Roman Catholic Church . This period of religious change across Western Europe was contagious and a reform in England was arguably inevitable, regardless of whether Henry VIII was king. At the same time, the English reformation was unlike other European reforms – it was much more in the nature of a political reform and not religion-based at all. Previously, Henry V had disolved several monasteries in England, despite their protection under the Papacy . Political actions without any real intent to change the religion, were already taking place in this conflict between church and state, well before Henry VIII. It was uncommon but not unheard of for the crown to challenge the …show more content…
Her removal of the Papacy legitimized herself as Queen. This, however, was not Elizabeth I’s only reason to remove Roman Catholicism – Elizabeth I intended specific religious reform. In 1559, Elizabeth I established the Elizabethan Settlement which created a religion substantially more like Protestantism . England remained predominantly Catholic until Elizabeth I’s reign, when she established the ‘via media’ between Catholicism and Protestantism . The via media is the middle grounds between Catholicism and Protestantism. The Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles that were published under Elizabeth I remain today almost unchanged