Impact of the Reformation

Introduction

The Reformation brought dramatic changes to religious life in England, transforming the doctrine, structure and even the appearance of the Church. This website has been created to give a sense of what those changes might have meant to English people, by showing how Sunday worship was affected. It shows the central moments from a Mass or eucharist (communion service) in three periods: late medieval, Elizabethan and Laudian. The same church has been used, the University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford, for most of the pictures. This church has a large nave separated from the chancel by a screen, and despite the modern additions and alterations it is still possible to see how differently the space was used in these periods.

Late Medieval

Elizabethan

Laudian