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The dissolution of the monasteries

The dissolution of the monasteries. The last act of the Henrician Refrormation. Monasteries were 'fortresses of God'. Monks prayed for the protection of the souls of the living and the redemptions of the souls of the dead. They were also centres of learning.

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The dissolution of the monasteries

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  1. The dissolution of the monasteries • The last act of the Henrician Refrormation

  2. Monasteries were 'fortresses of God' • Monks prayed for the protection of the souls of the living and the redemptions of the souls of the dead. • They were also centres of learning. • As the monks did not have time to 'work' they had a substantial support structure which kept them fed and housed.

  3. As a result of this: • Monasteries were often large land owners • They were often rich • They provided services for their locality: medical care; hospitality; charity; employment; schooling; care of the elderly

  4. For Protestants there was no need for monasteries. • The Protestants believed that there was not need for intercession. • Protestants who believed in predestination saw the prayers of monks and nuns as irrelevant as they had no influence on the outcome of one's life.

  5. For Cromwell and his supporters at Henry's court the monasteries had to go: • They were loyal to the leaders of their Order and to the Pope so could become centres of resistance to the Reformation; • They were not necessary religiously; • The money their lands provided tempting bait for Henry; • Once they were sold they would make reversing the Reformation very expensive.

  6. What was needed was a convincing reason. • In 1534 the Act of Supremacy had made Henry Head of the Church of England. • This gave him responsibility for church discipline. Cromwell persuaded him to allow him to investigate standards in the monasteries. • Between 1536 and 1541 Cromwell's commissioners found evidence of corruption and vice in all monasteries.

  7. During this time the monasteries were dissolved. • Initially the monks and nuns were given pensions but this was eventually abandoned. • The possessions of the monasteries and their lands were sold off to the local gentry families.

  8. Although this was popular with the small number of Protestants in England it was not with everyone else. • The loss of all the different services provided by the monasteries was felt very keenly particularly in the North and East Anglia. • There was resistance to the dissolution in these areas, with the most important one being The Pilgrimage of Grace 1536.

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