"Thomas Cranmer:" Jasper Ridley (#27): Early Reforms (chapter 6)


Cromwell is promoted to "Vice Regent" of spiritual affairs, thus, diminishing Dr. Cranmer's role as Henry's theological voice. Perceived Lutheranism? Dr. Cranmer is keen to this loss of authority as are others in the courtly public. John Lambert gets varied hearings at Lambeth on the invocatio sanctorum. The examiners--Cranmer, Latimer and Shaxton--agree that invocation of departed saints is "not" in the Bible, a step forward. The reformers are still stirring at OXBRIDGE and elsewhere. John Lambert, more theologian than courtly theologian, an advanced Reformer, gets visibility at court. (Meanwhile, eyes are on Tyndale on the Continent.) The reactionary Romanists are giving visibility to the reformers (again). By the time the Articles of Religion are hegemonized over English clergy, invocation of saints will be robustly denied. Christ alone is our only Advocate and Mediator, a phrase used often in the BCP, thankfully and instructively.

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