Henry VIII: Religion - Reform of the Church - Effects of Dissolution

Question 1

How much wealth was gained by the Crown from the dissolution?

Answer 1

• Seizure of lands and assets of monasteries brought him great wealth
• Estimated total value of dissolution amounted to about 10% of entire wealth of kingdom - part of one big transfer during 1530s

Question 2

How did Henry use the land and money gained from it?

Answer 2

• Used to fund Henry’s ambitious foreign policy
• Land sold off at full market value
• Very little given to courtiers as rewards or favours
• Crown lost control of lands and ability of charging taxes in future

Question 3

How much of the land was sold?

Answer 3

• More than half of monastic lands were sold in years 1543-47

Question 4

How did the nobility and gentry benefit from the dissolution?

Answer 4

• Much of property bought by nobility to strengthen regional power
• Also bought by lesser gentry to establish presence in community
• Contributes to growing visibility of gentry class

Question 5

How did Protestants benefit from the dissolution?

Answer 5

• Showed that praying for salvation of souls was not correct
• Monasteries were outdated and irrelevant institutions to reformers
• Closure of Catholic religious houses decreased power Catholicism had in local communities

Question 6

How were the inhabitants of monastic lands affected?

Answer 6

• Monks and nuns lost work and accommodation
• Most received pensions or one-off payments
• 1/5 of ex-monks secured other paid positions within Church to add on to their pensions
• Government least generous to nuns and friars, came from poorest establishments
• Many gained roles within Church or joined Catholic families’ homes

Question 7

How were local communities affected?

Answer 7

• Lost monastic libraries and places of education
• Some monastic churches remained open or built into cathedrals
• Some monastic schools reopened later