Faith and fraternity : the London Livery Companies and the Reformation c.1510-c.1600
This thesis considers how religious identities were constructed and expressed in Reformation England by focussing on two London livery companies: the Grocers and the Drapers. Livery companies had strong religious elements to their corporate identity; they had their origins in parish fraternities, maintained clergy and celebrated the feast of their patron saint. Whilst merchants have long been characterised as zealous early Protestants, existing research has simultaneously contended that the companies to which they belonged, and civic institutions more generally, adapted to the Reformation by secularizing their activities and ethos in order to retain stability â a notion that this thesis rejects. An examination of company records reveals that the rhetoric of Christianity, particularly appeals to peace, charity and brotherly love, punctuated the language of corporate governance throughout the century, and played a central role in the ability of the liveries to retain both a vibrant spiritual culture and fraternal stability. London's merchant elite were also London's civic governors and in their capacity as churchwardens and hospital officers we see that here too the language of peace and charity aced as a
Branch, Laura
BR Christianity ; DA Great Britain
Faith and fraternity : the London Livery Companies and the Reformation c.1510-c.1600. This thesis considers how religious identities were constructed and expressed in Reformation England by focussing on two London livery companies: the Grocers and the Drapers. Livery companies had strong religious elements to their corporate identity; they had their origins in parish fraternities, maintained clergy and celebrated the feast of their patron saint. Whilst merchants have long been characterised as zealous early Protestants, existing research has simultaneously contended that the companies to which they belonged, and civic institutions more generally, adapted to the Reformation by secularizing their activities and ethos in order to retain stability â a notion that this thesis rejects. An examination of company records reveals that the rhetoric of Christianity, particularly appeals to peace, charity and brotherly love, punctuated the language of corporate governance throughout the century, and played a central role in the ability of the liveries to retain both a vibrant spiritual culture and fraternal stability. London's merchant elite were also London's civic governors and in their capacity as churchwardens and hospital officers we see that here too the language of peace and charity aced as a
faith fraternity london companies reformation considers religious identity_construct reformation_england focus_two london company company strong religious element corporate_identity origins parish fraternity maintain clergy celebrate feast patron saint whilst merchant long characterise zealous early protestants exist simultaneously contend company belong civic institution generally adapt reformation activity ethos order retain stability notion reject examination company record reveals rhetoric christianity particularly appeal peace charity love language corporate governance throughout_century played central_role ability retain vibrant spiritual culture stability london merchant elite also london civic governor capacity hospital officer see language peace charity