Cranmer Studies

Rev. Dr. Gerald Bray, “Documents of the English Reformation:” Dr. Bray offers Tyndale’s verbatim, appreciative, and most high view of the Biblical text. It’s Tyndale that is in view, not Dr. Bray (19-20). This volume is a must-have for the student of the English Reformation, hands-down. Prof. Bray has been teaching Anglican history for over 40 years. Rev. Dr. Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, “Theology of English Reformers:” Prof. Hughes offers extensive quotations from Bishops Pilkington, John Jewel, and Archbishop Sandys on the serious, regular, sober, open, meek and reverent attendance to the Word written and preached. These men were certainly on a mission regarding the vigor, power, perspicuity, necessity, authority and salvific import of the Word written and the Word preached (124-126). The page contains the English Reformers and little of Prof. Hughes. If only the CoE and TEC Bishops talked like this in our time. Whoa! But, they love their own fancies over God. Diarmaid McCulloch’s “Thomas Cranmer:” Prof. MacCulloch describes the lead-up-to the 1539 Six Articles. Henry wants “diversity of religious views” stamped out. Can anyone say FB and Twitter censorship? Samo, samo. Wily Steve Gardiner’s hand is in the game. To his credit, Cranmer argues against the Six Whips in the LORDs (242). Cranmer fails, goes mum, and sends his wife back to Germany. What else could the poor ABC do? Arthur Innes: “Cranmer and the Reformation in England:” The execution of More and Fisher, 1535. Cranmer and the King’s victims, e.g., More, Fisher, Anne Boleyn, Robert Barnes, Lambert, and Cromwell. And the English seemed so moderate, balanced, and courteous. Poor Cranmer is swimming among the sharks. Leslie Williams’ “Emblem of Faith Untouched: A Short Life of Thomas Cranmer:” Williams surveys late 1532 and Cranmer’s selection to become the ABC. Told quickly and handily. The volume is a beginner’s text. Useful if an uncle wants a quick summary and has no background on Cranmer. Ayris, Paul, and David Selwyn, eds. Thomas Cranmer: Churchman and Scholar: Spinks ambles around on the Sarum Missal, noting places where Cranmer took over sections. Also, he comments on Quinones’, Heman von Wied’s, and Justas Jonas’s liturgies. Cranmer, like other Reformers, was committed to a vernacular and didactive purpose in liturgical revision (177). Cranmer was a liturgical surveyor and borrower of other texts. Ridley, Jaspar. Thomas Cranmer: We hear of the two letters to Henry by Cranmer over Anne’s execution (1536) and Cromwell’s 1540 conviction for treason and heresy (favoring Reformation, providing cover for Barnes, and cover for Reformation books in England). Two different situations, but both letters have the same format with the “almighty if” (our words). The bill of attainder against Cromwell was read three times in the LORDs with no dissenting voices. Cranmer was present in the LORDs for all three readings. Hence, the very things he himself was doing, yet, he essentially voted for Cromwell’s conviction. Fear? Yes. Cowardice? Yes. Naivette? No. Trust in Henry? Probably. As has been said before, Dr. Cranmer should have gone back to Cambridge instead of serving in Henry’s court. But, history is what it is (203-204). I'd rather dwell in the house of the LORD than in the tents of wickedness.