The religious allegiance of London's ruling elite, 1520-1603
This thesis analyses the role played by the ruling Ă©lite of London in the City's religious development during the Reformation. The contribution of London's rulers is placed within the broader context of the English Reformation. The central focus is the changing religious profile of the City Ă©lite from 1520-1603. Wills provide the core source material, in conjunction with data from parish records and the archives of the Corporation of London. Changes to the religious profile of the rulers are discussed in the context of the corporate identity of the Ă©lite, and in terms of the role of individual rulers within London's parishes and craft guilds. Stress is placed upon the importance of a relatively small number of well-placed individuals in influencing the course of religious change within the City. A small group within the lower strata of the Ă©lite had accepted a broadly evangelical religious position by the early 1530s. As a small, but socially significant body, this group supported the implementation of the Edwardian Reformation. By the 1560s a significant Protestant presence at the upper levels of City and parish government secured London's acceptance of the forms of worship required by the Elizabethan
Hickman, David John
History
The religious allegiance of London's ruling elite, 1520-1603. This thesis analyses the role played by the ruling Ă©lite of London in the City's religious development during the Reformation. The contribution of London's rulers is placed within the broader context of the English Reformation. The central focus is the changing religious profile of the City Ă©lite from 1520-1603. Wills provide the core source material, in conjunction with data from parish records and the archives of the Corporation of London. Changes to the religious profile of the rulers are discussed in the context of the corporate identity of the Ă©lite, and in terms of the role of individual rulers within London's parishes and craft guilds. Stress is placed upon the importance of a relatively small number of well-placed individuals in influencing the course of religious change within the City. A small group within the lower strata of the Ă©lite had accepted a broadly evangelical religious position by the early 1530s. As a small, but socially significant body, this group supported the implementation of the Edwardian Reformation. By the 1560s a significant Protestant presence at the upper levels of City and parish government secured London's acceptance of the forms of worship required by the Elizabethan
religious_allegiance london ruling elite analysis role_play ruling lite london city religious development reformation london ruler place_within broad_context english_reformation central_focus change religious profile city lite wills provide core source_material conjunction data parish_record archive corporation london changes religious profile ruler discuss_context corporate_identity lite term role individual ruler within london parish craft guild stress place_upon importance relatively_small number well individual influence course religious_change within city small_group within low stratum lite accept broadly evangelical religious position small socially significant_body group support implementation edwardian reformation significant protestant presence upper level city parish government secure london acceptance form worship require elizabethan