Edward VI, Mary I, and Royal Religious Reform – Talk 3

Join us, online with Carol Ann Lloyd as we learn about the Tudors.

When Henry VIII established himself as Supreme Head of the Church of England, his primary concerns were personal, dynastic, and economic rather than religious. He was determined to loosen the Pope’s hold on England but was hesitant in his reform. Not so his son Edward, who had been raised in an Evangelical tradition and was ready to take the role of “young Josiah” that the Archbishop of Canterbury assigned him. Edward VI and his ministers attempted to overhaul the religion of the nation, seeking to eliminate the vestiges of Catholicism that remained. One key target was the King’s half-sister and Parliament-recognized heir, Mary, who was a devout Catholic. When his health began to fail, Edward attempted to change the succession to name his Protestant cousin Lady Jane Grey heir instead of Mary. But Mary was popular and strategic, and she quickly amassed an army of supporters and took the throne. Mary I was committed to returning England to its relationship with the Pope and Catholicism. Her marriage to the Spanish Philip II was unpopular, and her efforts to enforce her religious beliefs were resisted. Despite her determination to make Catholic the permanent religion of England, she was ultimately forced to leave the throne to her half-sister, Elizabeth.

Date: Wednesday 31 August 2022

Time: 7pm – 8pm

Venue: Online

Tickets: Members £5 / Non-members £8. A discounted ticket for all talks in this series is also available.

Notes on the speaker:

Carol Ann Lloyd is a popular speaker, author, and podcaster who brings the stories of history and Shakespeare to life. She presents programs for Smithsonian Associates, Royal Oak Foundation, English Speaking Union, Folger Shakespeare Library, OLLI at George Mason University, and more—online and on stage. Her podcast, British History: Royals, Rebels, and Romantics, explores the lives of famous and infamous characters in history. She is currently working on a book, Tudors by the Numbers, which is scheduled for an Autumn 2023 release.

Carol Ann also speaks about how Shakespeare can help us develop effective conversation and interpersonal skills. She is the author of Building Relationships, One Conversation at a Time, and an Audible book, How to Build Meaning Relationships through Conversation. Carol Ann is now offering “Shake Up Your Conversations” programs to strengthen communication and engagement skills. She is a member and on the board of the Washington, DC chapter of the National Speakers Association.