Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556)

Thomas Cranmer was a man with many faults and failings. He was a very “human” individual. He was born in 1489 the second son of a minor landowner and like so many sons of that day he would receive no inheritance from his father because he was not the eldest son. Because of this, he was destined to become a priest and he entered Cambridge in 1510. His path toward being a clergyman ended however when he decided to marry. His wife died giving birth, after that he returned to Cambridge and the priesthood.

Cranmer was noticed by King Henry VIII who sent him to Rome to argue before the Pope the case for Henry’s divorce from his wife (Catherine). Cranmer was unsuccessful in this venture but Henry soon appointed him ambassador to Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain Charles V.

In 1532 Thomas Cranmer went to Germany to learn more of the Protestant movement. While in Germany he married the daughter of a Lutheran theologian (remember he is at this time a priest).

In 1533 Cranmer, keeping his marriage a secret, was made Archbishop of Canterbury. Three days later he declared Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon to be null and void so Henry could marry Ann Boleyn.

After that Cranmer adopts Protestant (mostly reformed) ideas and works for reform in the Church of England. The Book of Common Prayer and the 39 Articles are mostly his doing. Cranmer had many faults, but he served and supported the Reformation in England for many years.

Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary) became queen of England in 1553 after the death of her Protestant half brother Edward VI. Mary, like her mother (the divorced Catherine of Aragon), was a devout Roman Catholic and she was determined to crush the Reformation in England. She had numerous Protestants burnt at the stake and caused many others to flee to the continent. When the pressure was on Archbishop Cranmer, he signed a recantation of His Reformed views. But soon after he regained his internal strength and recanted of his recantation.

Mary ordered him burned at the stake. When the fire was lit around him Thomas Cranmer thrust his hand with which he had signed his recantation into the fire that it might be consumed first.

Thomas Cranmer died a true martyr for the faith. He was very human and had many failings. He reminds me of Peter who under pressure denied the faith, but like Peter was restored to faith and died in the service of the Lord. Cranmer was martyred (burned at the stake) on March 21, 1556.

Dominus vobiscum,
Kenith