Using Paintings as Evidence

Edward VI & the Reformation

• During the short reign of, Edward VI (1547-1553), Henry VIIIs ‘Reformation’ continued and even more church property was taken and any remaining monasteries were also closed.

• There was also an attempt to reform some of the religious ways of the time with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, in particular wanting to bring in Protestant ways of worship. Consequently many of the old Catholic statues and paintings were destroyed. A new prayer book was introduced and church services were made more simple.

• During Mary I’s equally short reign (1553-1558) attempts were made to reverse the changes introduced by Edward and to bring back the Roman Catholic religion in England. This is known as the counter-reformation. As queen Mary tried to reverse the religious changes that had been made in the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI.

• Her loyalty to Catholicism led to about 300 Protestants being burned at the stake. Included amongst these was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, who was executed for high treason.

• When Elizabeth I came to the throne she returned the country back to Protestantism and made the Church of England the established church.

Edward VI & the Pope

• This painting was probably produced between 1568 and 1571, to celebrate the successful re-establishment of the Church of England under Elizabeth I and to commemorate the anti-papal policies of Edward VI. There are a number of features in the painting which illustrate this Protestant viewpoint.

Image used with the kind permission of the National Portrait Gallery

Click on each question mark to learn more about this painting

The Pope with his staff

Henry VIII on his death bed

The new English prayer book which strikes the Pope's head

How does this image show that the new English prayer book was a ‘blow’ to the Pope in Rome.

The boy king, Edward VI on a small throne

What features in the painting show that Henry VIII intended his son to be the next king?

Through the window Catholic statues are being destroyed.

How is this showing that the Reformation continued during the reign of Edward VI?

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer

The Protestant Protector, the Duke of Somerset

The blank white spaces may have been intended for further anti-Catholic inscriptions

What advice do you think Henry VII is giving to his son

Edward VI?

What do you think Edward might be

saying to his father, Henry VIII?

What do you think the Pope might

be saying to the new King, Edward

VI?

True or False?

Edward VI introduced Protestant changes to the church?

True False

True or False?

• Edward VI introduced Protestant changes to the church?

True False

Edward was raised as a Protestant and under his uncle the Protestant Protector the crown continued to pass further

religious acts

True or False?

• Edward VI introduced Protestant changes to the church?

True False

Try again

True or False?

The Pope wanted prayer books to be written in English?

True False

True or False?

The Pope wanted prayer books to be written in English?

True False

Try again

True or False?

The Pope wanted prayer books to be written in English?

True False

The Pope wanted prayer books to be written in Latin, not in English

True or False?

During Edward’s reign Catholic statues were destroyed

True False

True or False?

During Edward’s reign Catholic statues were destroyed

True False

Try again

True or False?

During Edward’s reign Catholic statues were destroyed

True False

Catholic statutes were destroyed during the Reformation as they were a symbol of the wealth

and corruption of the Catholic church

True or False?

Mary I was nicknamed ‘Bloody Mary’?

True False

True or False?

Mary I was nicknamed ‘Bloody Mary’?

True False

During her short reign about 300 Protestants were burned at the stake which

led to her nickname of ‘Bloody Mary’

True or False?

• Mary I was nicknamed ‘Bloody Mary’?

True False

Try again

True or False?

• Elizabeth tried to find a ‘middle way’?

True False

True or False?

• Elizabeth tried to find a ‘middle way’?

True False

Try again

True or False?

• Elizabeth tried to find a ‘middle way’?

True False

Elizabeth was a Protestant but she tried to introduce a ‘religious settlement’ that would

settle some of the religious quarrelsEnd