HistoryThe English Reformation, 1509–160338 min★★ difficulty

Lesson 6: Edward, Mary and Elizabeth

Three settlements in twelve years made religious change immediate, personal and sometimes dangerous.

Part of your national curriculum

Britain 1066-1901: Understand the development of Church, state and society in Britain 1509-1745, including the English Reformation and its impact
Historical enquiry: Understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance
Britain 1066-1901: Understand the development of the Church, state and society in Britain 1509-1745, including the theory and practice of monarchy and the origins and progress of the English Reformation

Lesson overview

What you'll learn in this lesson

Compare the pace and direction of religious change after Henry VIII

Key learning points

• Edward VI
• Mary I
• Elizabeth I

This lesson at a glance

38 minutes
25 parts to scroll through
3 quick checks
Marked quiz at the end
Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses

Words to know

directionreligiouschangeedwardelizabeth

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Lesson 6: Edward, Mary and Elizabeth illustration

Archive-led lesson

Historical enquiry

Lesson 6: Edward, Mary and Elizabeth

Three settlements in twelve years made religious change immediate, personal and sometimes dangerous.

In a nutshell

Compare the pace and direction of religious change after Henry VIII

What you already know

Part 2 of 25

Before we start

What you already know

You should already know that Henry VIII kept many Catholic beliefs after 1534, and that he was followed by three of his children in turn.

Recap: Lesson 5: Reformation from above and below

Key words

Part 3 of 25

Key words

Words you'll need today

Prayer book: The official book setting out services in English.
Heresy: Belief judged contrary to official Church teaching.
Settlement: A set of laws fixing the official religion of the country.
Exile: Leaving the country to avoid persecution.

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Your lesson plan

Part 5 of 25

Lesson brief

Was England Protestant by 1559?

By the end, you will be able to

• Compare three royal settlements
• Explain the importance of enforcement
• Judge continuity and reversal

Resources

• English Reformation document set (c.1527–1590)
• Lesson notes and marked knowledge check

4 minRecall the chronology and frame the enquiry

15 minRead the textbook explanation and build the argument

11 minInterrogate the archive evidence in context

8 minAnswer the checks and write a supported conclusion

Learning cycle

Part 6 of 25

Learning cycle 1 of 2

Edward and Mary

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

Explore the idea

Part 7 of 25

Learn

Edward VI

Under Edward, worship moved sharply towards Protestantism: English services, clerical marriage and attacks on images.

Reset break

Part 8 of 25

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Explore the idea

Part 9 of 25

Learn

Mary I

Mary restored papal authority and Catholic worship. Nearly 300 Protestants were executed for heresy, while others conformed or fled.

Quick check

Part 10 of 25

Quick check

Which monarch restored papal authority?

Give me a hint

Quick check

Part 11 of 25

Quick check

What did Elizabeth's 1559 settlement restore?

Give me a hint

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Part 12 of 25

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Learning cycle

Part 13 of 25

Learning cycle 2 of 2

The Elizabethan settlement

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

Explore the idea

Part 14 of 25

Learn

Elizabeth I

The 1559 settlement restored royal supremacy and a Protestant prayer book, while retaining some traditional forms. Enforcement developed over time.

Quick check

Part 15 of 25

Quick check

Best description of 1547–59?

Give me a hint

Reset break

Part 16 of 25

Pause

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Investigate evidence

Part 17 of 25

Evidence 1 of 1

primary

English Reformation document set

Tudor officials and subjects, c.1527–1590

Royal orders, inventories and petitions show official religion changing repeatedly across four reigns.

The collection places documents from Henry VIII through Elizabeth I side by side, allowing change and continuity to be tested rather than assumed.

Think like a historian

Which changes would an ordinary parishioner have seen, heard or lost?

Source: The National Archives, English Reformation c.1527–1590

View the archive record ↗

Common mix-ups

Part 18 of 25

Common mix-ups

Things people often get wrong

People often call Mary's reign simply cruel and Elizabeth's simply tolerant. Both used law and force to enforce their settlements.
People often think each change convinced everyone. Many people conformed outwardly and waited.

Challenge round

Part 19 of 25

Game · Sort it

Which of these are true?

Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.

True

Not true

Reset break

Part 20 of 25

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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

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Challenge round

Part 21 of 25

Game · Fill the gaps

Finish the sentences

Choose the word that belongs in each gap.

Under ____, worship moved sharply towards Protestantism: English services, clerical marriage and attacks on images.

Challenge round

Part 22 of 25

Game · Recall cards

Who led the western Church in 1509?

Card 1 of 4

Exit quiz

Part 23 of 25

Exit quiz

Show what you've learned

6 questions, marked together at the end. Nothing is timed.

1. Which monarch restored papal authority?
2. Under Edward VI, worship moved…
3. What did Elizabeth's 1559 settlement restore?
4. Nearly 300 Protestants were executed under…
5. The best description of 1547–59 is…
6. Many people responded to repeated change by…

Mastery quiz

Part 24 of 25

Marked quiz

End of lesson quiz: Lesson 6: Edward, Mary and Elizabeth

4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.

1. Who led the western Church in 1509?
2. Which source best reveals parish spending?
3. Which judgement is strongest?
4. What was Henry seeking?

Lesson round-up

Part 25 of 25

Lesson round-up

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Understand the development of Church, state and society in Britain 1509-1745, including the English Reformation and its impact
Not looked at yet
Understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance
Not looked at yet
Understand the development of the Church, state and society in Britain 1509-1745, including the theory and practice of monarchy and the origins and progress of the English Reformation