Reformed Church History

Paper Summary:

This paper explains how Eamon Duffy, professor in church history at the University of Cambridge, has rewritten history and refutes what is considered a long-kept myth in his two books. It explains that he disputes the story long told by the Protestants of what encouraged the English Reformation in the Middle Ages. An analysis of his two books is provided in the paper.

From the Paper:

"The Protestant Reformation eventually eliminated this community structure. It abolished devotions to images that were the purpose for much of the financial support. It then took possession of the resources that had been put toward so-called "superstitious" practices. Without this means of supporting the church, Morebath suffered and finally lost most of its involvement by the parishioners.
Yet, as noted previously, the eventual decline of Morebath does not mean that the people immediately went along with the Reformation and quickly forgot hundreds of years of tradition. At the beginning, they were either not discouraged or not moved by the battering rams of the Protestant church. When their chalice was stolen, the young men and women collected for another one. On the very eve of the Reformation in 1533, the statue of Our Lady of Pity was regilt, and a new image was purchased. In addition, in 1535, a new rood, with Our Lady and St. John was commissioned. The parish meeting in the autumn of 1534 did not know that a few days before the theft that Parliament had passed the Act of Supremacy. This made no difference in Morebath. The same was true for the dissolution of the monasteries and the abolishment of the holy days in 1536. Due to their long years of belief, the Catholic followers kept faithful as long as they could."

More papers on Reformed Church History:

• Research Paper # 110763 : "Church Government"
• Term Paper # 92836 : "Reform and the Church"
• Analytical Essay # 136569 : "History From the 13th to the 17th Century"

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