Reformer, then Martyr

By Will Cairns

Imagine someone caring so little about being burned at the stake that they put their hand in the fire before it reaches them. This is what Thomas Cranmer did. He is one of the most influential and important figures in the Protestant Reformation, but he is not as commonly known in the United States as figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin. He is more well known in England, where he is regarded as the founder of the Church of England. There is an image of Cranmer in Hodges Chapel at Samford University that highlights Cranmer’s execution. Cranmer is often remembered as a martyr, but he should first be remembered for his contributions to the Reformation.

Who Was He?

Thomas Cranmer was born in July 1489 at Aslockton in Nottinghamshire, England. He studied at Jesus College in Cambridge and rose to prominence when he met some advisers of King Henry VIII. Cranmer argued that Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon should be invalidated, and Henry VIII should be able to marry Anne Boleyn. Cranmer was invited to be interviewed by the king through the connection to his advisers. Henry VIII appointed Cranmer to write a treatise arguing on behalf of the king and that he should be allowed to marry Anne Boleyn.

In 1532, Archbishop of Canterbury William Warham died. Henry VIII appointed Cranmer to the position. Cranmer became prominently involved in court proceedings, specifically regarding Henry VIII’s marriages. As the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cranmer formally invalidated Henry’s marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, supported his marriage to Anne Boleyn, and invalidated this marriage later.

The Image in Hodges Chapel

The image of Cranmer in Hodges Chapel is interesting because of where it is located. Samford University is a Baptist university, but it choose to honor Christian figures of other denominations such as the Reformed John Calvin and the Catholic Thomas Aquinas. The image itself shows the main accomplishments of Thomas Cranmer. For example, the buildings behind him depict Lambeth Palace, where Cranmer resided as archbishop, and Morton’s tower on the right, which is the formal entrance. Cranmer is also shown holding an English Bible, signifiying his supporter for the Bible being translated into English. The wreath above his head signifies how respected he is as a religious figure and martyr. The stack of wood on the bottom left represents Cranmer’s execution of being burned at the stake, and he is depicted putting his right hand in the fire, something that he did when he was executed. The image is a very well-made painting that provides an interesting depiction of Cranmer’s main accomplishments and his martyrdom.

Contributions to the Reformation

As archbishop, Cranmer became a believer in Protestantism. He campaigned in support of an English Bible in a time where scholars only studied the Bible in Greek and Hebrew. Because of this, people with authority in churches, like the pope or priests, could use this to their advantage, as most people could not read Greek or Hebrew, or simply did not have access to Bibles. For this reason, an English Bible can be seen as a Protestant belief at the time, (though most Catholic churchgoers probably did not complain) because it would take away power from the authority figures in the Catholic Church.

In 1549, Cranmer wrote The Book of Common Prayer, which was controversial at the time because of Cranmer’s theology, which included his beliefs about the eucharist. Catholics believed that the bread and wine of communion transformed into the body of Christ. However, Cranmer believed that the real presence of God is in communion, even if it does not actually become his body. Because of beliefs like this, Cranmer was seen by the public as a questionable figure during a time in which the Catholic Church held the power in England.

Arguably one of the most important aspects of Cranmer’s theology is his theology of salvation coming from justification by faith. Ashley Null writes that Cranmer “defended this doctrine as the true interpretation of Paul on two grounds. Pastorally speaking, giving human merit any role in salvation introduced uncertainty about one’s own salvation” (Null 2006). The Catholic Church was operating under the influence of the pope and of royal figures. This led to inconsistencies with things stated in the Bible that the Catholic Church contradicted, for example, the belief that humans have any role at all in the process of salvation. According to Null, the second way that Cranmer defended his doctrine was theologically, “attributing any portion of the process of salvation to one’s own efforts was to steal for oneself some of the glory that belonged to Christ alone” (Null). Cranmer believed this, and he stood by it in a time where almost no one else did.

In a modern context, believing something that is found in the New Testament is not as controversial, but it was in Cranmer’s time because many looked to the church as more authoritative than scripture. In Romans 5, Paul writes, “Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1 ESV). This was one of Cranmer’s central beliefs, because he was convinced that it was an overlooked, yet crucial, aspect of Paul’s writings. Zac Hicks speaks of Cranmer’s “conviction that justification by faith, in and through Christ, is what the sacrament is about” (Hicks). It is inspiring that Cranmer stood firmly on his conviction, as well as his biblical foundation in a time where he could be executed for these beliefs.

His Death and Martyrdom

Cranmer did not contribute so much to the Reformation without making enemies, and Queen Mary I is the most prominent of these. As Marilee Hanson puts it, “Mary had good cause to dislike Cranmer. Not only was he the premier Protestant in England, he also annulled her parents’ marriage and subsequently married King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn” (Hanson). Mary imprisoned Cranmer and ordered him to write a recantation and accept Catholicism. Cranmer wrote this recantation, but when asked to say everything again publicly at his execution, he denied his recantation of Protestantism. An eyewitness of Cranmer’s execution recounts that Cranmer said, “as for the pope, I refuse him, as Christ’s enemy and antichrist, with all his false doctrine” (Hanson). The eyewitness also wrote that Cranmer put his hand into the fire, saying, “my hand shall first be punished: for if I may come to the fire, it shall be first burned” (Hanson). Thomas Cranmer knew his time on earth had finished, so he died standing firm in his beliefs. Even though he recanted Protestantism, in his final moments he affirmed his Protestant beliefs, which shows what he truly believed and stood for as a reformer.

Thomas Cranmer was burned at the stake for his beliefs; however, the beliefs are the important part. It is vital to remember why he was executed. The simple belief in justification by faith alone is the single most important belief of Thomas Cranmer. This is what he needs to be remembered for, and this is why there are murals of him. Cranmer’s contributions to the Reformation can teach Christians to stand firm in their theology even when culture, or even the Church, believes something else. His martyrdom can inspire Christians to live with eternity in mind, as Cranmer sought for nothing in his final moments except to preach the truth and glorify God.

Thomas Cranmer
Medium: painting
Artist: Petru Botezatu
Created and Installed: c. 1955
Location: Andrew Gerow Hodges Chapel, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive,
Birmingham Alabama, 35229

References

Elton, Geoffrey R. 1998. “Thomas Cranmer.” Britannica Academic. https://academic-eb-com/levels/collegiate/article/Thomas-Cranmer/26764.

Hanson, Marilee. 2015. “Archbishop Thomas Cranmer Death by Execution.” English History. https://englishhistory.net/tudor/thomas-cranmer-death.

Hicks, Zac. 2023. Worship by Faith Alone: Thomas Cranmer, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Reformation of Liturgy. Westmont: IVP Academic.

Null, Ashley. 2006. “Thomas Cranmer and the Anglican Way of Reading Scripture.” Anglican and Episcopal History 75 (4): 488–526. https://research-ebsco-com/linkprocessor/plink?id=44616a07-da90-3f54-b7ab-592c90eb05c4.

Ridley, Jasper. 1962. Thomas Cranmer. London: Oxford University Press.

Will Cairns ‘27 was a student in UCS 102.14 – University Core: Seminar in Samford University’s Howard College of Arts & Sciences in fall 2023.

Published: January 2, 2024.