The Rise of the Protestants
Welcome to my podcast.
This podcast examines the rise of Protestantism, its challenge to established traditions, its transformation of core beliefs, and its role in initiating global change.
England’s Nonconformist and Separatist movements are central to this narrative, and their influence continues to shape the broader Christian tradition.
By examining these movements within the broader context of Christian history, we can understand how they altered doctrine, influenced Western Christianity, and intensified the enduring division between Roman Catholicism and emerging Protestant groups.
The series follows a chronological timeline, beginning in early 16th-century Germany with Martin Luther’s excommunication and concluding a century later on England’s southern coast.
The initial 12-episode series highlights the contributions of Beza, Vermigli, Calvin, Tyndale, Knox, and Robert Browne, who is often called the father of Congregationalism.
The series does not seek to persuade listeners or promote any specific belief system.
Instead, it aims to explore the events, ideas, and conflicts that shaped one of the most important times in European religious history.
Throughout the series, the determination and conviction of early Puritans, Nonconformists, and Separatists are highlighted.
These individuals challenged prevailing norms, endured persecution, and often risked their lives for their beliefs.
Their courage contributed to the foundation of religious freedom and individual rights that remain widely valued today.
The first 12 episode series highlights the contributions of figures such as eza, Vermigli, Calvin, Tyndale, Knox, and Robert Browne, who is frequently referred to as the father of Congregationalism.
Each episode begins and ends with a brief musical piece that reflects its theme.
A complete transcript will be provided for each episode.
Episodes
29 episodes
(New) History. Part 2 - The Fall of the Anglo-Saxons. England’s fate turns on the wind and the sea. (Transcript added).
In this episode, our journey through the Viking Age continues, drawing us ever closer to the dramatic events of the Norman invasion in 1066.The artwork: Pietro Perugino painted Mary at the Cross around 1482. The work i...
(New) Series 2 Episode 10 -The Congregations of Gainsborough and Scrooby. (Transcript added).
The picture is: A current, live photograph of Gainsborough Old Hall.Gainsborough Old Hall is one of the best-preserved medieval manor houses in England and played an important role in the history of the early Separatists. Built in...
Bonus Episode — The Appointment of Sarah Mullally (Transcript added)
Dame Sarah Mullally, former Bishop of London and a one-time Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS, became the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury on 25 March 20 26. As the first woman to lead both the Church of England and the wider Angl...
History. Part 1 - The Anglo-Saxon Path: Hardship and Faith. (Transcript added).
The artwork shows a scene from the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, featuring William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.The Bayeux Tapestry uses pictures to tell the story of the events leading up to the Norman c...
Series 2 Episode 9 - The Deprivations of the Puritan Non-Conformists (Transcript added).
Audio • Season 2 • Episode 9 • The Deprivations of the Puritan Non-ConformistsArtwork • Portrait of Richard Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury.Lord Clarendon, in praise of him stated that “If Bancro...
Series 2 Episode 8 - The Lambeth Articles to Hampton Court, Part 2. From York to Canterbury, by way of Sturton-le-Steeple . (Transcript added).
The Lambeth Articles to Hampton Court.Part 2. From York to Canterbury, by way of Sturton-le-Steeple. (Transcript added).The Common Era (CE/BCE) is a neutral alternative to BC/AD, used for the same calendar in academic and multicul...
Series 2 Episode 8 - The Lambeth Articles to Hampton Court; No Bishop – No King. Part 1. Britain, its beginnings, language and religion (Transcript added).
Audio • Season 2 • Episode 8 • The Lambeth Articles to Hampton Court, No Bishop, No King!. Part 1. Britain and its beginnings, language and religion. Artwork • Lambeth Palace. Lamb...
Series 2 Episode 7 - From Refugees to Millenary and the New King. - Shorter listen (Transcript added).
Regular episode • Season 2 • 7 • From Refugees to Millenary and the New King Artwork • Funeral of Queen Elizabeth I-April 28, 1603.Published by janetwertmanMusic •Drop, drop, slow tears.Sung by the Cambri...
Series 2 Episode 6 - Exiles in Amsterdam (Transcript added).
Regular episode • Season 2 • Episode 6 • Exiles in Amsterdam. Artwork •The Canons of Dort, or Canons of Dordrecht. Formally titled The Decision of the Synod of Dort on the Five Main Points of Doctrine in Dispute i...
Series 2 Episode 5 - A Vengeful Archbishop (Transcript added).
Episode Type • Season Episode Season • Episode Episode Number • Episode Title Artwork • John Whitgift, Archbishop o...
Series 2 Episode 4 - Imprisonments, within London's Jails (Transcript added).
Artwork • The Gasthuiskerk is a Protestant church of the Christian Reformed Churches in Middelburg in the province of Zeeland .The church was built in 1493 as a chapel dedicated to Saint Barbara . The originally ...
Series 2 Episode 3 - The Puritan presses are closed down (Transcript added).
Artwork • Scrooby Manor HouseMusic • At the Round Earth's Imagined Corners, Performed by The Aeolian Chorale. The poem "At the round earth's imagined corners", is one of English poet <...
Series 2 Episode 2 - Martin Marprelate. Part 2, Progression (Transcript added).
Artwork • The Cambridge University Library copy of: The fifth Marprelate Tract "Theses Martinianæ", published 22 July 1589. Printed by John Hodgkins in Wolston Priory Warwickshire, at the residence of Roger Wigston...
Series 2 Episode 2 - Martin Marprelate. Part 1, Backdrop (Transcript added).
Artwork • The Cambridge University Library copy of: 'The Protestation of Martin Marprelate’, 1589, the final instalment, in the seriesHastily created on an antiquated press hidden in a barn on a Coventry ...
Series 2 Episode 1 - The killing of a Queen. - Shorter listen (Transcript added).
Artwork • The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots at Fotheringhay Castle on 8 February 1587, drawn by Robert Beale (1541-1601), Clerk of the Privy Council to Queen Elizabeth I, who wrote the official record of the ...
Trailer, series 2 • What to expect.
Welcome, and thank you for joining me for series 2. In this podcast, we examine the emergence of Protestantism, its challenge to established traditions, its transformation of key beliefs, and its global impact.At the he...
Trailer, Series 1 • What to expect.
Hello, and welcome.This podcast looks at the rise of Protestantism, how it challenged old traditions, changed core beliefs, and started a transformation that changed the world.At the heart of this story are England’s Noncon...
Series 1 Episode 1 - Protestant Beginnings. - Shorter listen (Transcript added).
This version of the episode is shorter - for a quicker read. The artwork is a portrait painting of Martin Luther from 1528. Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472–1553) created the painting, which is currently hou...
Series 1 Episode 2 - Three English Bibles. - Shorter listen. (Transcript added).
The Artwork is: The cover page of the Coverdale Bible, which was first printed in 1535.The Music is: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God'; Composer: Mart...
Series 1 Episode 3 - The Protestant Boy King. - Shorter listen. (Transcript added).
The Artwork is The Family of Henry VIII, c. 1543-1547The Music is John Taverner: Quemadmodum , Psalm 42, c.1540.This moving and beautiful piece is thought to be a setting...
Series 1 Episode 4 - Bloody Mary - Shorter listen. (Transcript added).
The Artwork is Portrait of Mary by Antonis Mor. c.1554The Music is The Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm: 27) Anglican chant.This is a shorter version, for a quicker read,...
Season 1 Episode 5 - Geneva: The First English Study Bible. (Transcript added).
The artwork is the cover from an original copy of the Geneva Bible dated 1560.The Geneva Bible is one of the most historically significant translations of the Bible into English, preceding the Douay Rheims ...
Season 1 Episode 6 - Elizabeth's Religious Settlement. (Transcript added).
The Artwork isa Portrait of Elizabeth I, Queen of England, by anonymous Artist.It location is The Rijks Museum, Amsterdam. The Music is The Volta, a couples' renaissance dance.The Protestant...
Series 1 Episode 7 - Mary Queen of Scots. (Transcript added).
The Artwork is A Miniature of Mary Queen of Scots. c 1559 by François Clouet.This exquisite miniature is related to a drawing by the artist François Clouet, held in the Bibliothèque nati...
Series 1 Episode 8 - John Knox and the Presbyterian Offensive. (Transcript added).
The artwork is The International Monument to the Reformation, commonly referred to as the Reformation Wall, which was inaugurated in 1909 in Geneva, Switzerland.The Wall, stands within the premises of the University of Ge...
Series 1 Episode 9 - An Admonition to the Parliament. (Transcript added).
Audio • Season 1 • Episode 9 An Admonition to the ParliamentThe Artwork is The title page of Travers’ Ecclesiasticae Disciplinae.Located in the University of Glasgow library.The M...
Series 1 Episode 10 - Norwich, Robert Browne & Congregationalism. (Transcript added).
The artwork is The St Andrew's and Blackfriars' Halls, together with their crypt and cloister, and is known collectively as The Halls Norwich. Grade 1 listed they form the most complete medieval friary complex still ...
Series 1 Episode 11 - Reformation, without Tarrying for Any. (Transcript added).
The artwork is a commemorative stone located in the churchyard of St. Giles in Northampton, part of a memorial dedicated to Robert Browne.The music performed is "This Is the Record of John," arranged by N...
Series 1 Episode 12 - The Protestant Crusade in Holland. (Transcript added).
Series 1 • Episode 12 • The Protestant Crusade in HollandThe artwork is "The Ratification of the Peace of Münster".Painted in 1648, by Gerard ter Borch, 1617 to 1681.It depicts the treaty between Spain a...
