Reformation Timeline (1503-1611)

1503 Pope Julius II raises funds to renovate St. Peter's in Rome by proclaiming an indulgence

1516 Erasmus publishes his addition of the Greek-Latin New Testament demonstrating the corruption of the of the Latin Vulgate's text and promoting for everyone to read.

1517 The Protestant Reformation begins; Martin Luther nails his "95 Theses" against the Catholic practice of selling indulgences, on the church door at Wittenberg.

1518 At meeting of Augustinians in Heidelberg, Luther defends his theology; later he appears before Cardinal Cajetan at Augsburg, but refuses to recant. In December, Frederick the Wise protects Luther from being handed over to Rome.

1519 Luther begins New Testament sermon series, signaling a new era of Biblical preaching.

1521 Lutheran books appear in England. Henry VIII writes a book on the sacraments against Luther. Henry VIII receives the title "Defender of the Faith" from Pope Leo X for his opposition to Luther.

1529 Henry VIII decides he does not need to get permission from the bishop of Rome to have his marriage annulled. He declares himself head of the English church, forcibly cuts the Anglican bishops off from communion with Rome, calls the Reformation Parliament, and marries Anne Boleyn. Services at the churches, however, remain essentially the same; the mass is in Latin, there is no sermon or systematic Bible reading, and the people are passive and receive communion only at Easter, getting only the consecrated bread.

1533 Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn and is excommunicated by Pope Clement VII.

1534 Act of Supremacy: Henry VIII declared supreme head of the Church of England. Calvinism severs ties with Rome.

1536 First Publication of Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion

1538 John Rogers (alias Thomas Matthew) prints the Tyndale Bible translation in Paris. It is approved by the Henry VIII as the "Great Bible" to be read by all his people.

1545 Henry VIII's last speech to Parliament. He says Papist, Lutheran, Anabaptist are names devised by the devil to sunder one man's heart from another.

1546 (Germany) Council of Trent. Bishops in communion with the bishop of Rome decide that the church "venerates equally" the Bible and the written and unwritten traditions (whatever that means). This is the beginning of the Tridentine Church (today's Roman Catholic church). England is becoming a haven for Protestants from the continent.

1549 First Book of Common Prayer (Cranmer's work), introduced on Day of Pentecost. It is written in English, emphasizes the people's participation in the eucharist, and requires the Bible to be read from cover to cover. Fast days are retained (supposedly to help fishermen), but saints' days are not. Roman Catholic rebels in Cornwall claim they cannot understand English

1550 "Hooper's visitation". A bishop surveys the parish priests of England and finds them concerned about their work but poorly educated. John Hooper pushes for a purer church.

1552 Book of Common Prayer revised to suit Protestants. No more "real presence" at the eucharist. No vestments, no signing of the cross at confirmation, no holy oil, no reserved sacrament, no prayers for the departed.

1553 Forty-two articles drafted. The Calvinist influence is obvious. (Geneva) Calvin burns Michael Servetus, a Unitarian who has fled to escape the Spanish Inquisition. Liberals lose their illusions about Calvinism.

1553 Edward VI dies. People are tired of Protestant looting of churches. Mary Tudor ("Bloody Mary"), a militant Roman Catholic, becomes queen. Popular at first, she soon marries the hated Philip II of Spain. Persecution of Protestants begins; Mary appoints new bishops and fires all married priests. During her reign, about 300 Protestants are burned, including 5 bishops, 100 priests, 60 women. Most Protestants are forced into exile or hiding. All this ensures Roman Catholics will remain unpopular in England.

1558 Mary dies. Elizabeth I, a Protestant, becomes queen. Despite many problems (including frequent assassination plots from Roman Catholics), she supports the enterprising middle class and England prospers. The Marian Exiles, many of whom were be strongly influenced by Calvinism and Reformed theology, worship and church order start returning to England where they would have much influence especially on the Puritans.

1559 Book of Common Prayer revised. A special license is required to preach. There is no church music except metrical psalms sung to ballad tunes.

1564 The word "Puritan" appears for the first time. The Puritans are Calvinists, legalists, and name-callers. They are very serious, and oppose most things that are fun for themselves or others. They want: a skilled, educated preaching ministry, based on the Bible; as few ceremonies in church as Biblically possible (no surplice, no signing of the cross); abolition of the traditional role of bishop; and replacement of the episcopate by a Presbyterian system and one legal government church, controlled by Puritans. (Contrast the
Separatists who want independent churches.)

1611 King James Version of the Bible. Most of the language is Tyndale's.