Rachel Evans
The persecution of Catholics in England has a long and complex history, dating back to the English Reformation under King Henry VIII. The Act of Supremacy in 1534 declared the English crown as the supreme head of the Church in England, replacing the Pope's authority. This set off a series of events that often led to violence and persecution, particularly during the reigns of Queen Mary I and her sister, Elizabeth Tudor. Queen Mary I, also known as Bloody Mary, burned Protestants she deemed heretics, while Elizabeth, also known as Good Queen Bess, persecuted Catholics who refused to accept her as both the secular and spiritual ruler, with violations considered treason. This dynamic continued through the ages, with anti-Catholic sentiment stoked by various events, such as the re-establishment of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in 1850, leading to attacks on Catholic homes and churches. The persecution of Catholics in England has left a lasting impact, and while some celebrate this history, others recognize it as a dark chapter in the nation's past.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics burned in England | Several hundred |
| Date | 1554-1558 |
| Person Responsible | Queen Mary I |
| Heretics | Protestants |
| Punishment for men | Hanging, drawing, and quartering |
| Punishment for women | Burning |
| Other punishments | Fines and imprisonment |
| Location | Kent, Smithfield |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Mary I's reign
Queen Mary I, also known as "Bloody Mary", was the first female monarch of England, ruling from 1553 to 1558. She was the first 'queen regnant'—a queen who rules as the primary monarch rather than as a consort. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon and was baptised into the Catholic faith.
Mary's reign was marked by her zealous campaign against Protestant dissidents and her commitment to restoring Catholicism in England, which caused significant religious upheaval. She aimed to reverse the Protestant reforms implemented by her half-brother, King Edward VI, and return the country to the authority of the Pope. Mary's persecution of Protestants earned her the nickname "Bloody Mary", with several hundred Protestants burned at the stake during her reign. Contemporary sources place the number of people burned at 280, while other sources estimate 300.
Mary's revival of Catholic practices was generally welcomed by English Catholics, who remembered her favourably. Her religious policies were a response to the English Reformation, which had put a stop to Catholic governance in England and asserted royal supremacy over the Church. Mary's persecution of Protestants was not unique to her reign, as her successor and half-sister, Elizabeth I, also persecuted Catholics, although she was praised as shrewd for doing so.
Mary's marriage to Philip of Spain in 1554 and her devotion to Catholicism exacerbated anti-Catholic and anti-Spanish sentiment among the English people. Her health declined during her reign, and she spent an increasing amount of time away from Greenwich Palace, at other royal residences such as Richmond and Whitehall Palace. She died childless in 1558 at the age of 42, and her half-sister Elizabeth succeeded her, reversing Mary's Catholic reforms and continuing the persecution of Catholics.
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Anti-Catholicism in the UK
Anti-Catholicism has a long history in the United Kingdom, with various instances of persecution, discrimination, and violence targeting individuals and communities of the Catholic faith. One of the most well-known periods of anti-Catholicism in England was during the reign of Queen Mary I, also known as "Bloody Mary," from 1554 to 1558. Mary I, a devout Catholic, persecuted Protestants, burning those she considered heretics at the stake. Contemporary sources recognize at least 280 people burned during her rule.
Following Mary I's reign, her sister, Elizabeth Tudor, also known as "Good Queen Bess," ascended the throne and ruled from 1558 to 1603. Elizabeth Tudor persecuted Catholics during her reign, as they refused to accept her as both the secular and spiritual ruler of England. Violations of the laws established during her reign were considered acts of treason, punishable by hanging, drawing, and quartering.
In the 1700s, anti-Catholic sentiment continued to manifest in violent ways. The Protestant Peep O'Day Boys group attacked Catholic homes, smashed their looms, and disarmed Catholics. This led to the formation of a Catholic group called the Defenders, and the conflict culminated in the Battle of the Diamond in 1795, where roughly 30 Catholic Defenders were killed. Hundreds of Catholic homes and at least one church were burned in the aftermath.
The 19th century also witnessed a resurgence of anti-Catholic fervor in England. The re-establishment of the Roman Catholic ecclesiastical hierarchy in 1850 by Pope Pius IX sparked a wave of anti-Catholic sentiment, often fueled by newspapers. Effigies of Catholic figures were burned, and graffiti with anti-Catholic slogans appeared on walls.
Today, residual anti-Catholicism can be observed in the UK, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Traditions like the burning of an effigy of Guy Fawkes, a Catholic conspirator, on Guy Fawkes Night every 5th of November have largely lost their sectarian connotations. However, the practice of burning an effigy of the Pope on this day persists in the town of Lewes, Sussex. Additionally, the Act of Settlement of 1701 stipulates that any member of the British royal family who joins the Catholic Church must renounce their right to the throne, although this ban has been lifted for those who marry a Roman Catholic as per the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013.
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Catholic martyrs in England
During the English Reformation, King Henry VIII declared himself the Supreme Head and Governor of the Church of England, marking its split from the Catholic Church. This led to the persecution of Catholics in England, with many becoming martyrs.
The English Reformation saw the end of Catholic ecclesiastical governance in England, the dissolution of church institutions, and the assertion of royal supremacy over the English Church. The Reformation put to death those who stood in its way, with many becoming martyrs for their Catholic faith.
Henry VIII's declaration as head of the Church of England led to the persecution of Catholics who refused to comply with the new religious order. Thomas More and John Fisher, both executed in 1535, are among the most famous Catholic martyrs of this period. More had been a close adviser to the King but refused to approve of his actions, while Fisher was the only bishop in England who opposed Henry, offering counsel to Queen Catherine of Aragon, whom Henry sought to divorce.
Under Henry VIII's daughter, Mary I, papal authority was reinstated, and the persecution of Protestants began. Mary's reign saw the martyrdom of over 280 people, including tradesmen, married couples, and youths. During this time, it became illegal to draw people away from the state church, not attend a Church of England service, or raise children with unlicensed teachers.
Elizabeth I, who succeeded her half-sister Mary I, instituted further laws against recusancy, or the refusal to comply with the state church. This included making it a crime punishable by death to go overseas to receive ordination as a Roman Catholic priest. Elizabeth's reign saw the martyrdom of many Catholics, including priests and laypeople.
In total, there are close to 300 martyrs from the English Reformation period who have been beatified or canonized, with 40 known as the Martyrs of England and Wales. These martyrs include St. Margaret Clitherow, a wife, mother, and pregnant woman who was martyred in 1586 for converting to Catholicism, harbouring priests, and allowing Masses to be celebrated in her house.
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The English Reformation
The reign of Queen Mary I, or 'Bloody Mary', saw the persecution of Protestants, with at least 280 people burned at the stake over five years. Mary believed in a universal Christian church under the Bishop of Rome, and her short reign (1554-1558) ended with the accession of her Protestant half-sister, Elizabeth Tudor, in 1558.
Elizabeth, or 'Good Queen Bess', persecuted Catholics during her long reign (1558-1603), and she is considered a nationalist for her assumption of spiritual authority over Christians in England. The 1559 bills made English Catholics guilty of high treason, punishable by death. The belief in a universal church under God was a matter of conscience, and Catholics were killed because they did not accept that an act of Parliament could change a fifteen-century-old Christian tradition.
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Queen Elizabeth I's persecution
Elizabeth's reign saw the persecution of Catholics through fines, imprisonment, and execution. The 1559 bills made English Catholics guilty of high treason, punishable by hanging, drawing, and quartering for men, and burning for women. To say or attend the Catholic Mass became a criminal act, and all parishioners had to attend church on Sundays and holy days under penalty of a shilling for each absence. Elizabeth's principal secretary was a moderate Protestant, and her Privy Council was filled with former Edwardian politicians. Only Protestants preached at Court, and a proclamation forbade any "breach, alteration, or change of any order or usage presently established within this our realm". Nevertheless, Protestants were emboldened to practice illegal forms of worship.
In April 1559, a bill abolishing the Mass and imposing an English-language Book of Common Prayer liturgy passed in the House of Lords. The Mass, the central act of Catholic worship, was condemned as idolatry and replaced with a Protestant communion service. The doctrines of purgatory, prayer for the dead, and the intercession of saints were also rejected. Iconoclasm was sanctioned by the government, and religious images and relics were suppressed.
Elizabeth's persecution of Catholics was driven by her assumption of spiritual authority over Christians in England and her desire to protect English interests against the threat of a Spanish "Evil Empire". Her policies led to the suppression of dissent and the systematic pillaging of foreigners' property. By Elizabeth's death, Catholicism had become "the faith of a small sect", largely confined to gentry households.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is evidence that Catholics were burned in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who persecuted Catholics during her long reign (1558-1603).
It is unclear exactly how many Catholics were burned during this time, but there are records of numerous executions. For example, William Dighel was burned at about the same time as Nicholas Sheterden, and William Carman was burned in 1557.
No, Queen Mary I, also known as Bloody Mary, persecuted Protestants during her reign and burned those she considered heretics.
