Claire | September 12, 2016
On this day in history, Thursday 12th September 1555, the trial of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, began at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin at Oxford. Cranmer, who had served both King Henry VIII and King Edward VI as Archbishop of Canterbury, stood accused on this day in Mary I’s reign of […]
Claire | May 3, 2016
On Wednesday 3rd May 1536, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, who had travelled back to Lambeth Palace from Knole (his country residence) after being summoned back to court, wrote a letter to King Henry VIII: “Have come to Lambeth, according to Mr. Secretary’s letters, to know your Grace’s pleasure. Dare not, contrary to the said letters, presume […]
Claire | March 30, 2016
On 30th March 1533, Passion Sunday, Thomas Cranmer, Archdeacon of Taunton, was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury by the bishops of Lincoln, Exeter, and St Asaph at a service in St Stephen’s College, Westminster Palace. Click here to read more about that. Also on this day in history, 30th March 1558, Queen Mary I made […]
Claire | March 21, 2016
If you have been following this website for a while, you will have gathered that I am a practising Christian. My faith is real and true, but it’s far from perfect. I doubt, I question, I rant and I rave, and I often wonder when I’m writing about martyrs of the 16th century what I […]
Claire | March 21, 2016
On this day in history, 21 March 1556, in the words of martyrologist John Foxe, Thomas Cranmer, former Archbishop of Canterbury, “closed a life of high sublunary elevation, of constant uneasiness, and of glorious martyrdom” when he was burnt at the stake in Oxford in the reign of Queen Mary I. Cranmer’s execution was a […]
Claire | December 4, 2015
On this day in history, 4th December 1555, Papal sentence was passed on Thomas Cranmer in Rome, resulting in Cranmer being deprived of his archbishopric (Canterbury) and “of all the ecclesiastical dignities”. This sentence is recorded by Bernardo Navagero, Venetian Ambassador at Rome, to the Doge and Senate: “On Wednesday the 4th instant consistory was […]
Claire | November 2, 2015
Happy All Souls’ Day! Unfortunately, back in 1541 All Souls’ Day was not a happy day for Henry VIII and any thoughts or prayers he had for departed loved ones were soon forgotten when he attended All Souls’ mass and found a letter left for him in the Holy Day Closet at Hampton Court Palace. […]
Claire | September 12, 2015
On Thursday12th September 1555, the trial of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, began in the University Church of St Mary the Virgin at Oxford. He was accused of two offences, or doctrinal errors: repudiating papal authority and denying transubstantiation. Cranmer had served Kings Henry VIII and Edward VI as archbishop, but now it was the […]
