First published 1990
MacCulloch examines the English Reformation during its later phase, spanning from Edward VI's rise to power through Elizabeth I's reign until 1603. The book draws on recent scholarly findings to explore this transformative period in English religious history. MacCulloch distinguishes between two different stories: the reforms that government leaders intended to implement and the varied ways these changes actually affected ordinary people across England. He shows how the Elizabethan religious settlement, despite its political success, left many believers unsatisfied. Both Catholics who rejected Protestant reforms and Protestants who wanted more radical changes found themselves excluded from the official religious framework. The author traces how clergy adapted to shifting religious policies and how common people responded to these mandated changes in their spiritual lives.
Genres: history, religion, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction
Setting: England
Period: 1547-1603
205 pages · Hardcover · Palgrave Macmillan