AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
England, 1485–1603 – Henry VIII, 1509–1547: Religion: renaissance ideas;…
Full specification wording
1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603 – Henry VIII, 1509–1547: Religion: renaissance ideas; reform of the Church; continuity and change by 1547
Religion under Henry VIII balanced renaissance ideas, Church reform, and significant continuity and change by 1547.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 6 of 6
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Religion under Henry VIII balanced renaissance ideas, Church reform, and significant continuity and change by 1547. Renaissance ideas, championed by humanists like Erasmus, encouraged purging clerical abuses without altering core Catholic doctrine. The break with Rome precipitated structural reform of the Church, notably the Royal Supremacy and the dissolution of the monasteries, dismantling traditional monastic life. Despite these radical changes, there was substantial continuity in religious practice by 1547. The Act of Six Articles (1539) reaffirmed key Catholic doctrines like transubstantiation. Consequently, the Henrician Church remained largely Catholic in theology and ritual, even as it was structurally severed from papal authority.
What earns the marks
- Evaluate the influence of Renaissance humanism on religious thought, referencing figures such as Erasmus, Colet, and More.
- Analyse the structural reform of the Church, focusing on the Royal Supremacy and the dissolution of the monasteries.
- Assess the extent of doctrinal change, contrasting the reformist Ten Articles (1536) with the conservative Six Articles (1539).
- Identify areas of religious continuity by 1547, such as the persistence of traditional Catholic rituals, transubstantiation, and the Latin mass.
- Examine the impact of the English Bible (1539) and its subsequent restriction by the Act for the Advancement of True Religion (1543).
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing structural reform with doctrinal reform.
Put it right: Clarify that while Henry changed the leadership of the Church, he largely maintained Catholic beliefs.
Stating that England became a Protestant country by 1547.
Put it right: Describe the Church in 1547 as Catholicism without the Pope, noting the conservative backlash in Henry's later years.
Equating Renaissance humanism directly with Protestantism.
Put it right: Explain that humanists sought to reform the Catholic Church from within through education, not to break away from it.
Exam tips
- Use the Act of Six Articles (1539) as your primary evidence when arguing for religious continuity and Henry's inherent conservatism.
- Distinguish clearly between the early reformist phase managed by Cromwell and Cranmer and the conservative reaction of the 1540s.
- When discussing change by 1547, emphasise the permanent destruction of monasticism and the transfer of wealth to the Crown and gentry.
Try the lesson
The start of the 1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603 – Henry VIII, 1509–1547: Religion: renaissance ideas; reform of the Church; continuity and change by 1547 lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was the primary purpose of the Act of Supremacy passed by the English Parliament in 1534?
Listen
Religion under Henry VIII balanced renaissance ideas, Church reform, and significant continuity and change by 1547. Renaissance ideas, championed by humanists like Erasmus, encouraged purging clerical abuses without altering core Catholic doctrine. The break with Rome precipitated structural reform of the Church, notably the Royal Supremacy and the dissolution of the monasteries, dismantling traditional monastic life. Despite these radical changes, there was substantial continuity in religious practice by 1547. The Act of Six Articles (1539) reaffirmed key Catholic doctrines like transubstantiation. Consequently, the Henrician Church remained largely Catholic in theology and ritual, even as it was structurally severed from papal authority. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Evaluate the influence of Renaissance humanism on religious thought, referencing figures such as Erasmus, Colet, and More. Analyse the structural reform of the Church, focusing on the Royal Supremacy and the dissolution of the monasteries. Assess the extent of doctrinal change, contrasting the reformist Ten Articles (1536) with the conservative Six Articles (1539). Identify areas of religious continuity by 1547, such as the persistence of traditional Catholic rituals, transubstantiation, and the Latin mass. A common slip: Confusing structural reform with doctrinal reform. Instead, clarify that while Henry changed the leadership of the Church, he largely maintained Catholic beliefs. Exam tip: Use the Act of Six Articles (1539) as your primary evidence when arguing for religious continuity and Henry's inherent conservatism.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Humanism and intellectual reform
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Royal Supremacy
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Doctrinal conservatism vs radicalism
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Monastic dissolution
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Humanism and intellectual reform
- Renaissance ideas, championed by humanists like Erasmus, encouraged purging clerical abuses without altering core Catholic doctrine.
- Royal Supremacy
- The break with Rome precipitated structural reform of the Church, notably the Royal Supremacy, severing it from papal authority.
- Doctrinal conservatism vs radicalism
- The Act of Six Articles (1539) reaffirmed key Catholic doctrines like transubstantiation, so the Henrician Church remained largely Catholic in theology and ritual.
- Monastic dissolution
- The dissolution of the monasteries dismantled traditional monastic life, a radical structural change despite substantial continuity in religious practice by 1547.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of 1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603 – Henry VIII, 1509–1547: Religion: renaissance ideas; reform of the Church; continuity and change by 1547
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge