Using these four sources in their historical context, assess how far
they support the view that England was a protestant country by the
death of Edward VI in 1553.
Source A: The accounts kept by the churchwardens of a Worcester parish record the
impact of the Edwardian Reformation in the Midlands.
1548 Payment for the hewing down of the seats of the images in the church and
whiteliming the church
1548–9 Money received for a lamp and censer
Money received for a copper cross
Money received for a holy water pot, organ pipes, case and coffer of the
organ
Payment for the writing of two inventories of church goods
Payment for writing of the scriptures and painting the church
Payment for taking down the altars and paving where the altars stood
1552–3 Money received for the rood loft Payment for taking down the rood loft.
From the Churchwardens’ Accounts, St Michael’s Bedwardine, Worcester
Source B: A German protestant who arrived in England in 1548, and taught theology at
Cambridge University, sends news of religious events in England to one of the leading
European protestants.
The bishops have not yet agreed on Christian doctrine, let alone the rules of the Church, and
very few parishes have qualified clergymen. Sometimes the clergy read the service rapidly,
so that the ordinary people have no more understanding of it than if it were still in Latin
rather than English. When these problems are presented to the bishops, they say they
cannot correct them without an Act of Parliament. Though Parliament meets every year, the
number of secular matters stops Church affairs being discussed. When you next write to the
Duke of Somerset, you must urge him to reform the Church.
Martin Bucer, letter to John Calvin, June 1550
Source C: An Act of Parliament of 1552 condemns the absence of people from church and
imposes the Second Book of Common Prayer.
In spite of the introduction of the First Common Prayer Book by Parliament, a great number
of people in this realm wilfully and damnably refuse to come to their parish churches on
Sundays and holy days. In future those who are absent shall be punished by the Church
courts. The First Common Prayer Book has produced doubts about the form of worship, so
they support the view that England was a protestant country by the
death of Edward VI in 1553.
Source A: The accounts kept by the churchwardens of a Worcester parish record the
impact of the Edwardian Reformation in the Midlands.
1548 Payment for the hewing down of the seats of the images in the church and
whiteliming the church
1548–9 Money received for a lamp and censer
Money received for a copper cross
Money received for a holy water pot, organ pipes, case and coffer of the
organ
Payment for the writing of two inventories of church goods
Payment for writing of the scriptures and painting the church
Payment for taking down the altars and paving where the altars stood
1552–3 Money received for the rood loft Payment for taking down the rood loft.
From the Churchwardens’ Accounts, St Michael’s Bedwardine, Worcester
Source B: A German protestant who arrived in England in 1548, and taught theology at
Cambridge University, sends news of religious events in England to one of the leading
European protestants.
The bishops have not yet agreed on Christian doctrine, let alone the rules of the Church, and
very few parishes have qualified clergymen. Sometimes the clergy read the service rapidly,
so that the ordinary people have no more understanding of it than if it were still in Latin
rather than English. When these problems are presented to the bishops, they say they
cannot correct them without an Act of Parliament. Though Parliament meets every year, the
number of secular matters stops Church affairs being discussed. When you next write to the
Duke of Somerset, you must urge him to reform the Church.
Martin Bucer, letter to John Calvin, June 1550
Source C: An Act of Parliament of 1552 condemns the absence of people from church and
imposes the Second Book of Common Prayer.
In spite of the introduction of the First Common Prayer Book by Parliament, a great number
of people in this realm wilfully and damnably refuse to come to their parish churches on
Sundays and holy days. In future those who are absent shall be punished by the Church
courts. The First Common Prayer Book has produced doubts about the form of worship, so
