Dead Folk You Should Know: Thomas Cranmer
We owe an immeasurable debt to a 16th century man called Thomas Cranmer. He brought the clear teaching of Scriptures to the church of England via a new prayer book. To this day much of our theology, practice and services derives from his writings. Our own Colin Reed writes:
21st March 1556 Thomas Cranmer was burned at the stake — 470 years ago.
As Archbishop of Canterbury, he was the chief architect of the Reformation in England. King Henry VIII, who appointed him, was not in tune with the Reformation but respected the Archbishop. Cranmer was able to make some changes while Henry was alive, and in the brief reign of his son, Edward (1547-53), brought the reforms to fruition.
Cranmer was a scholar and brought reform mainly through compiling a new Prayer Book and getting it approved by Parliament. Previously there had been several prayer books, and the main centres of church life had been monasteries, with seven services a day. Henry closed most of the monasteries.
Cranmer’s aims were clear: to give people services in their own language, full of the Bible and reflecting its teaching.
Few people were literate and books were costly, so rather than the emphasis we have on Bible reading and prayer at home, the aim was that people would go to their parish church, hear the Bible read and join in the prayers.
The two daily services, Morning and Evening Prayer, had set readings which went through the Old Testament once a year and the New three times. There was also the service of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) at which the congregation would receive both bread and wine (unlike the Roman Catholic Church). Cranmer excluded any idea of Christ being in the bread and wine, and any suggestion that the ‘priest’ offered a ‘sacrifice’. No service had prayers to the saints, nor prayers for the dead.
Young king Edward was followed by the Catholic Queen Mary (1553-58). Cranmer was imprisoned, condemned to death. Later, Elizabeth I reintroduced his Book of Common Prayer which was used worldwide until the 1970s, is still authorised for use.
Grace and peace,
Mark
PS: Thank you to those who prayed for Susan and me as we took some leave. We had an excellent break and saw God’s hand at work bringing refreshment to us.