The Reformation in Wales 2
A short-lived reversal

A foreign imposition
During the reign of Edward VI there was a more concerted campaign of Protestant reform with an English language Order of Communion being enforced. In some areas this was seen as a foreign imposition in the same way that the creation of new shires had been, and there may well have been resentment to this and a more general resistance to change from what was familiar. On the other hand some of the reforms may have brought about a more energetic clergy becoming more actively involved in their parishes.
The possibility of open revolt against the changes was denied by the support for reform from the local aristocracy, who had done well out of the dissolution of the monasteries.

Reversing the reforms
During the reign of Mary Tudor (1553-1558) an attempt was made to reverse all the Protestant reforms and return the church to the Roman Catholic fold. Protestant legislation was repealed and heresy laws were revived.
In Wales most of the clergy complied with Catholic legislation just as they had the Protestant. Only one Welsh bishop, Robert Ferrar of St Davids fell foul of Catholic reverses. In 1555 he was taken to Carmarthen, a Protestant stronghold, and there burnt at the stake.
Mary’s reign was, however, too short to effect a genuine reversal of what had gone before, and the reign of Elizabeth 1 firmly established a Protestant church with the monarch at the head.

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