Renovating the Sacred: the Re-Formations of the English Parish Church in the Diocese of Norwich, C.1450-1662 Irena Tina Marie L

Renovating the Sacred: The Re-formations of the English Parish Church in the Diocese of Norwich, c.1450-1662 Irena Tina Marie Larking BA, BAHons (First Class), MA (First Class) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2013 School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics Abstract The English Reformation can perhaps be described as a watershed moment in England‟s history – an event that changed not only the theological underpinnings of legislation and doctrine, but also the way in which parish communities experienced religion as a congregation within the context of their parish church. This thesis takes a fresh look at the English Reformation from its beginnings during the early sixteenth century through to the Restoration. How did the English Reformation become a reality within parish or faith communities and what impact did this have on those communities and on their collective faith experience? By using the methodological trajectory of material culture within the context of the Diocese of Norwich, this thesis explores the history of the English Reformation through the detailed analysis of local parish history. The focus of this thesis traces the history of eight rural parishes in Diocese of Norwich in the counties of Norfolk – North Elmham, Stockton, Redenhall, Tilney All Saints – and Suffolk – Boxford, Metfield, Cratfield, Long Melford – and one urban parish – St Peter Mancroft, Norwich - through the use of multiple sources, both textual and material culture. The primary textual sources that the thesis draws on are the churchwardens‟ accounts for these churches. These exist in both manuscript and transcript form, of which significant portions of the manuscripts have been transcribed by the author and some for the first time. In addition to churchwardens accounts the thesis also incorporates detailed analyses of religious legislation, both national and diocesan, as well as the Book of Common Prayer. The material culture that the thesis draws on are the surviving contemporary artefacts within the churches in this study, some of which have not been analysed before. The thesis also draws on liturgical objects and furnishings currently on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum. The thesis follows a chronological trajectory that begins with the late medieval period (chapter 2). The furnishings and the use of space was, not surprisingly, largely determined by the theology of Roman Catholicism – it was theology made tangible for the faith communities of late medieval England. This enables the subsequent changes to be analysed in light of the shift from Roman Catholicism to Protestantism. It then moves on to a detailed analysis of the liturgical changes and consequent impact on the furnishings and reconfiguration of the parish church under ii the Tudors during the turbulent changes of the sixteenth century (chapters 3 and 4). This will show that the changes in official legislation did not necessarily equate to dutiful changes in liturgy and furnishings at the parish level. It was not only the furnishings and space that was reordered for Protestant worship, but also the rituals outlined in the new Book of Common Prayer that significantly altered how both priest and people ought to perform these rituals. Drawing on my analysis of the 1597 visitation returns for the Diocese of Norwich, the thesis will show that there were pockets of resistance towards the Prayer Book and how the liturgy ought to be performed (chapter 5). Priests and laypeople alike were prepared to “voice” their disagreement through use or misuse of objects, spaces and rituals within and around the parish church. Finally, the thesis analyses the turbulent changes of the mid seventeenth century, from the implementation of the beauty of holiness, the backlash that resulted in a second wave of iconoclasm and then the publication of a new Prayer Book in 1662 (chapter 6). All of these changes were dependent upon the manifestation of theology through the preferred material culture, or lack thereof, and the readjustment of space within the parish church. The process of analysing how churches were reconfigured by way of the reallocation of space, the objects that filled those spaces, and how the congregation interacted with these spaces and objects, brings an original contribution to the history of the English Reformation. This thesis will demonstrate the value that local stories can add to a national story, and that the adoption of material culture as a methodology is a key component in the retelling of these stories. These stories are inherently about the faith communities that traversed the difficult and unpredictable journey from Roman Catholicism to Protestantism. iii Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. iv Publications during candidature „Not Just a Quaint Object: The Value of Material Culture to the History of England‟s Religious Past‟ –British World Conference, Referred Proceedings (August 2012) „Contested Spaces in Sacred Places: re-forming the English Parish Church under Mary I‟, Crossroads, forthcoming Publications included in this thesis „Not Just a Quaint Object: The Value of Material Culture to the History of England‟s Religious Past‟ –British World Conference, Referred Proceedings (August 2012) Contributor Statement of contribution Larking, Irena Wrote paper 100% „Contested Spaces in Sacred Places: re-forming the English Parish Church under Mary I‟, Crossroads, forthcoming Contributor Statement of contribution Larking, Irena Wrote paper 100% v Contributions by others to the thesis No contributions by others Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree None vi Acknowledgements It is a difficult task indeed to adequately recount the many ways in which I have been so generously supported and warmly encouraged through the course of my PhD candidature. First and foremost, I want to thank God for sustaining me throughout this process. This journey would not have been the same without Him. I moved from New Zealand to Brisbane to do my PhD which was made possible with being awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award. I would like to thank the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics and the Centre for the History of European Discourses for providing an academic home over the past three and a half years. The School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics have also been generous in giving me an expenses and travel grant of $4000. I have also been privileged to have received travel and conference funding through the Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies of around $1000. I would like to thank all those churchwardens in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk who presented a welcome face, friendly advice and, at times, a warm cup of tea when I visited in July 2011. Their dedication to the upkeep of their churches is to be commended and without their efforts, these churches would be much worse off. I would also like to thank the County Record Offices in Norfolk and Suffolk for their assistance in helping me with accessing manuscripts and for a quiet place to work. There have also been several academics who have been gracious in sharing their research, and on occasion their time, with me: David Griffith (Birmingham University), David King and Lucy Wrapson (Hamilton Kerr Institute). I would like to thank my supervisors – Emeritus Professor Philip Almond, Associate Professor Rick Strelan, at the initial stages, and then Dr Dolly MacKinnon from 2011 – without whom this thesis would not have come together in the way that it has. Their support has extended beyond reading numerous drafts, to impromptu conversations on climbing bell towers and the state of the Anglican Church, to pragmatic advice on how to navigate my entrance into the world of academia. I also owe a debt of gratitude to my parents. Their support from afar has been (and still is) invaluable and cannot be contained to a few short sentences. I must make special mention of my mum, Helené Larking, who prompted my interest in history back at the beginning of year 12 when I needed one more subject to fill my quota of classes. There have also been several people who have filled gaps in my vii research skills, or provided another pair of eyes. Thanks to Hollie Thomas for helping me with my Latin translations. Thanks to Kelvin Tan for helping me with my statistical analysis, and, at times, conducting the analysis several times over.

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