OCR · GCSE · History
Course version: J410 · Version from Mar 2026
Role and importance (including wealth) of the church in England c.1520;…
Full specification wording
The English Reformation c.1520–c.1550 (J410/12) - English Reformation c.1520–c.1535: Role and importance (including wealth) of the church in England c.1520; religious practice and the relationship between the church and ordinary people; the role and impact of the Lollards’ and Luther’s ideas; critics of the English church in the 1530s; popular attitudes towards reform of the church; Henry VIII’s desire to annul his first marriage; the legislation of the Reformation Parliament 1529–1534.
This topic examines the English church around 1520 and the pressures that led to reform by 1535.
Checked against the OCR J410 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic examines the English church around 1520 and the pressures that led to reform by 1535. The church was wealthy and central to daily life: it owned land, collected tithes and provided parish worship, festivals and charity, shaping ordinary people's routines and beliefs. The Lollards spread criticisms of church wealth and practices, and Luther's ideas from Germany challenged papal authority and key doctrines, spreading through print. In the 1530s critics attacked abuses and corruption, while popular attitudes to reform ranged from loyalty to quiet discontent. Henry VIII's desire to annul his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon drove his break with Rome, and the Reformation Parliament of 1529–1534 passed legislation that limited papal power and recognised royal supremacy.
What earns the marks
- Describes the wealth of the church, including land and tithes, and its importance in ordinary people's lives.
- Explains that the Lollards criticised church wealth and practices and that Luther's ideas challenged papal authority.
- Identifies critics of the English church in the 1530s and the range of popular attitudes towards reform.
- States that Henry VIII sought to annul his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
- Recognises that the Reformation Parliament of 1529–1534 passed legislation limiting papal power and asserting royal supremacy.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confuses the Lollards with Luther's followers.
Put it right: Keep their separate origins and ideas distinct.
Places the annulment and Reformation Parliament outside 1529–1534.
Put it right: Keep the legislation within that date range.
Assumes all ordinary people welcomed reform.
Put it right: Recognise a range of popular attitudes.
Treats the church as only a spiritual body.
Put it right: Include its wealth and social role.
Exam tips
- Match each option to the correct date range, especially the Reformation Parliament of 1529–1534.
- Distinguish Lollard criticism from Lutheran ideas when both appear as options.
- Check whether an option describes the church's wealth and social role, not just its doctrines.
- Link Henry VIII's annulment to the legislation that followed rather than to later events.
Try the lesson
The start of the The English Reformation c.1520–c.1550 (J410/12) - English Reformation c.1520–c.1535: Role and importance (including wealth) of the church in England c.1520; religious practice and the relationship between the church and ordinary people; the role and impact of the Lollards’ and Luther’s ideas; critics of the English church in the 1530s; popular attitudes towards reform of the church; Henry VIII’s desire to annul his first marriage; the legislation of the Reformation Parliament 1529–1534. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
How did the Church remain central to the everyday lives of ordinary people in England around 1520?
Listen
This topic examines the English church around 1520 and the pressures that led to reform by 1535. The church was wealthy and central to daily life: it owned land, collected tithes and provided parish worship, festivals and charity, shaping ordinary people's routines and beliefs. The Lollards spread criticisms of church wealth and practices, and Luther's ideas from Germany challenged papal authority and key doctrines, spreading through print. In the 1530s critics attacked abuses and corruption, while popular attitudes to reform ranged from loyalty to quiet discontent. Henry VIII's desire to annul his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon drove his break with Rome, and the Reformation Parliament of 1529–1534 passed legislation that limited papal power and recognised royal supremacy. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Describes the wealth of the church, including land and tithes, and its importance in ordinary people's lives. Explains that the Lollards criticised church wealth and practices and that Luther's ideas challenged papal authority. Identifies critics of the English church in the 1530s and the range of popular attitudes towards reform. States that Henry VIII sought to annul his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Exam tip: Match each option to the correct date range, especially the Reformation Parliament of 1529–1534.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Wealth and role of the church
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Religious practice and ordinary people
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Lollards, Luther and critics
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Henry VIII, annulment and Reformation Parliament
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See every definition
- Wealth and role of the church
- The church owned land, collected tithes and provided parish worship, festivals and charity, shaping ordinary people's routines and beliefs.
- Religious practice and ordinary people
- Parish worship, festivals and charity shaped ordinary people's routines and beliefs, and popular attitudes towards reform ranged from loyalty to quiet discontent.
- Lollards, Luther and critics
- The Lollards spread criticisms of church wealth and practices, Luther's ideas from Germany challenged papal authority and key doctrines, and critics attacked abuses and corruption.
- Henry VIII, annulment and Reformation Parliament
- His desire to annul his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon drove his break with Rome, and the Reformation Parliament passed legislation limiting papal power and recognising royal supremacy.
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