The Anabaptists Versus King Henry VIII: An Exploration of Anabaptism and Their Pursuit of Religious Liberty in Henry’s England

Seminary Room N335

The Anabaptists rose up as a grassroots movement whose purpose was to fulfill the original vision of the early reformers. Influenced by Scripture and the free will teachings of Desiderius Erasmus and his emphasis on religious toleration, the Anabaptists 29 championed a new, radical form of voluntary religion patterned after the NT church. Among other things, it was the Anabaptist belief in free will and religious liberty that put them at odds with the religio-political authorities throughout continental Europe. The fierce persecution caused the north German and Dutch Anabaptists, in particular, to find refuge in England during the reign of King Henry VIII. Despite the differences in approach to the cause of reform, England in the pre-reformation and early reformation period, provided a fertile ground where the Anabaptists flourished for a season. Recent historical findings suggest that the Anabaptist movement during Henry’s reign was much more significant and influential than had been previously believed. Like others that came before and after them, the Anabaptists bore witness to the notion of religious liberty and toleration through their proclamation and martyrdom long before such notions were embraced in England.