Reformation in Ireland

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The Reformation in Ireland was a movement for the reform of religious life and institutions that was introduced into

Norman and English monarchs used the title "Lord of Ireland" to refer to their Irish conquests dating from the

Henry died in 1547. In his reign, prayers remained the same, with the Latin Breviary still used until the Book of Common Prayer (in English) was introduced from 1549. From 1548, for the first time, Irish Communicants were given wine and bread; the former Roman Rite of the Mass allowed a congregation to be given bread only, with wine taken by the priest.

Dissolution of the monasteries

The dissolutions in Ireland followed a very different course from those in England and Wales. There were around 400 religious houses in Ireland in 1530—many more, relative to population and material wealth than in England and Wales. In marked distinction to the situation in England, in Ireland the houses of friars had flourished in the 15th century, attracting popular support and

"more than half the clerical property in the kingdom being vested in lay hands; but that of Ireland was in a manner annihilated. Bishopricks, colleges, glebes and tithes were divided without mercy amongst the great men of the time, or leased out on small rents for ever to the friends and relations of the incumbents. Many Irish bishopricks never recovered this devastation, as Aghadoe, Kilfenora and others. The Bishoprick of Ferns was left not worth one shilling. Killala, the best in Ireland, was worth only 300l. per annum; Clonfert, 200l.; the Archbishoprick of Cashel, 100l.; Waterford, 100l.; Cork, only 70l.; Ardagh, 1l. 1s. 8d.; and the rest at even a lower rate."[1]

Religious policy of Edward VI

Henry's son

During his reign attempts were made to introduce Protestant liturgy and bishops to Ireland.^[3] These attempts were met with hostility from within the Church, even by those who had previously conformed.^[3] In 1551, a printing press was established in Dublin which printed a Book of Common Prayer in English.^[4]

Religious policy of Queen Mary I

Henry's and Edward's efforts were then reversed by Queen

In 1554 she married Philip, Prince of Asturias, who in 1558 became the King of Spain. Philip and Mary were also granted a papal bull in 1555 by Pope Paul IV to reconfirm their status as the Catholic King and Queen of the new Kingdom of Ireland.^[6]

Also in 1555 the Peace of Augsburg established the principle of Cuius regio, eius religio, requiring Christians to follow their ruler's version of Christianity, and it must have seemed that the experiment of reformation had ended.

Religious policy of Queen Elizabeth I

Mary's Protestant half-sister, Queen

Additionally, the Irish

In 1631 the Primate James Ussher published "A Discourse of the Religion Anciently professed by the Irish and British", arguing that the earlier forms of Irish Christianity were self-governing, and were not subject to control by the Papacy.^[11] Ussher is more famous for calculating from the Bible that the earth was created on 22 October 4004 BCE.

Policies of Commonwealth and Restoration regimes

The final stage was marked by the

Despite the Reformation's association with military conquest, the country produced outstanding philosophers who were Anglican Irish philosophers and writers, some of whom were Church of Ireland clergy, such as James Ussher, Archbishop of Dublin; Jonathan Swift, priest; John Toland, essayist, philosopher and free thinker; George Berkeley, bishop. The Presbyterian philosopher Francis Hutcheson (1694–1746) had a notable impact in Colonial America.

See also