Reformation and the Tudors
Puritans were “the hotter sort of Protestant” who emerged amongst English-speaking peoples in the aftermath of the Continental Reformation initiated by the German monk, Martin Luther (1483-1546), and the French lawyer, John Calvin (1509-64). The Reformation in many parts of Europe involved a clear-cut transformation of existing ecclesiastical structures and practices of worship but the situation in England was more complex. Henry VIII (r. 1509-47) initially broke with the Church of Rome for political rather than religious reasons: he desired to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon and the Pope refused to grant approval. Consequently Henry VIII, with the assistance of his Archbishop, Thomas Cramner, established himself as head of the Church
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Citation: Searle, Alison . "Puritanism". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 August 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=912, accessed 26 November 2024.]
