Back to the BibleAs the church became more wealthy and powerful, it sadly became more morally and spiritually weak. It even passed a law against reading the Bible in English! The Bible translations of Wycliffe and Tyndale challenged this.
Many of those who wanted change in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were known as ‘Reformers’. They insisted upon freedom to read the Bible in English and they called for the church to return to the teaching of the Bible. Thomas Cranmer, as Archbishop of Canterbury, was responsible for The Book of Common Prayer; this was the official service book of the Church of England – written in English instead of Latin! The Reformers also helped to increase the provision of education, and they limited the price of bread in order to protect the poor.
‘Black hats and killjoys’ is the popular view of the seventeenth century Puritans, but it was certainly not true of most. The Puritans especially emphasised the value of marriage and the honour and dignity of women. They not only raised the moral standards of the nation but produced many great scientists – and they loved music and poetry. They also stressed the importance of Sunday as a day for rest and worship.
One important Puritan statesman was Oliver Cromwell. He helped to establish the right of Parliament to govern the nation. This was to be with fairness and compassion.
Cromwell:
• Opposed severe punishments for minor crimes.
• Insisted on high standards for clergy, schoolmasters and lawyers.
• Allowed Jews to re-settle in England.
A slowly emerging awareness of the need for toleration of differing religious views prepared the way for the Act of Toleration in 1689.
The period of the Reformers and Puritans laid the foundation for many of the privileges we enjoy today such as justice, parliamentary democracy and freedom of conscience. Click Here to find out more
Copyright Day One Publications, used with permission |
