Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Elizabeth Barton & John Fisher (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
How Serious were the Threats to Henry VIII's Changes to the Church? - Timeline & Summary
Henry VIII's changes to the Church caused resistance and challenges to his authority. Among these threats were individuals who sought to maintain the Catholic faith in England. One key figure was Elizabeth Barton, also known as the "Nun of Kent." She openly criticised the king's actions. She predicted that there would be consequences for England if Henry continued with his reforms. Another prominent opponent of Henry VIII's religious changes was John Fisher, the Bishop of Rochester. Fisher wanted to defend the Catholic faith. He refused to accept Henry's claim to be the Supreme Head of the Church of England. In both cases, there were violent consequences. Barton and Fisher were executed on charges of treason. However, this did not end the religious tensions within England caused by the Reformation. |
Who was Elizabeth Barton?
Elizabeth Barton was a nun from Kent
She was 16 years old
She became a nun due to a religious experience she had when she was seriously ill
Barton claimed that the Virgin Mary cured her
Barton was famous for her religious gift
Members of the nobility and gentry saw Barton as a holy woman with a special connection to God
How did Elizabeth Barton oppose Henry's changes to the Church?
Who was John Fisher?
John Fisher became Bishop of Rochester in 1504
Fisher was a famous scholar
When Henry was young, Fisher was one of his tutors
How did John Fisher oppose Henry's changes to the Church?
Fisher openly opposed Henry's annulment of the marriage to Catherine of Aragon because:
He supported Catherine as queen
He believed that God gave the Pope important powers
Henry could not choose to be the Head of the Church
Many bishops supported Fisher's actions but would never openly admit this
Henry VIII's Reaction to Barton & Fisher
Punishment of Elizabeth Barton | Punishment of John Fisher |
|---|---|
In July 1533, Barton was arrested and interrogated for treason. On 23rd November 1533, investigators forced Barton to confess to lying about her visions. Similarly to Cromwell, parliament voted in favour of the Act of Attainder to execute Barton without trial. She was executed for treason on 21st April 1534, the same day as London residents took the Oath of Succession. Henry ordered the burning of all of Barton's written prophecies | Initially, Henry could not punish Fisher as he had not broken any laws. However, Fisher began associating with Barton. In 1533, he was charged with treason but received a fine of £300 rather than the death sentence. Fisher continued to oppose Henry, writing to Charles V to invade England. In 1534, Fisher refused to take the Oath of Succession. During Fisher's arrest in the Tower of London, the Pope promoted Fisher to cardinal. In June 1535, Fisher was executed for treason. He was the only bishop to receive this punishment |
Worked Example
Describe one feature of Elizabeth Barton’s opposition to the Reformation
2 marks
Answers:
One feature of Elizabeth Barton's opposition was her prophesies about the disastrous consequences of the Reformation (1), In 1532, she predicted Henry’s death if he divorced Catherine and married Anne Boleyn (1).
Exam Tip
Ensure you make your details as specific as possible to access all 4 marks. The details of this example include the key dates of Elizabeth's opposition and execution.
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was out of four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
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