The prayer book rebellion, also known as the western rebellion, was an uprising that took place in devon and cornwall in 1549. In 1549, the english government made an english language prayer book for use. The bbc history magazine posts this story, including links to nine locations associated with the prayer book rebellion. The english government, with help from foreign soldiers, had finally defeated the cornish and devon armies. The battle of sampford courtenay was one of the chief actions in the western rebellion of 1549 preparations edit. For the revolts in the 1620s and 30s, see western rising.
On the face of it there have been few rebellions in the history of europe, never mind england, more difficult to understand than the prayer book rebellion that started on the steps of sampford courtenay church. Sampford courtenay is where the rebellion started, and where the rebels were defeated. By mid august 1549, humphrey arundell, the leader of the rebel troops, regrouped his forces at sampford courtenay when he received a promise from winchester that 1,000 men would join his force. Hooker was a young man of 23 at the time of the prayer book rebellion and was an eyewitness to the siege of exeter. In devon a rebellion occurred at sampford courtenay the rebels had the same grievances. The final full battle of the prayer book conflict took place at sampford courtenay in middevon. This date in 1549 was disgraced in england by one of the bloodiest battlefield atrocities in that realms history. In august 1549, sampford courtenay was the location for the rebels last.
Source for information on sampford courtenay, battle of. Following the enforced change on whitsunday, on whitmonday the parishioners of sampford courtenay in devon compelled their priest to revert to the old service. Many protested the new english prayerbook because english was not commonly spoken at the time. His account of the rebellion begins on page 34 of this volume, starting with the sampford courtenay rising. Sampford courtenay is full of pretty thatched cob cottages, nestling in peaceful, unspoilt countryside, with a welcoming, characterful pub, a lively village hall and an impressive grade ilisted 15thcentury church at its core. The new prayer book was not uniformly adopted, and in 1549 the act of uniformity made it unlawful to use the latin liturgical rites from whitsunday 1549 onwards. Sampford courtenay is famous for the prayer book rebellion of 1549 but the day began with a short presentation on the history of the village from prehistory, through the romans and anglo saxons to the middle ages. From whit sunday in 1549, it became illegal to use the old latin prayer book which, from that date, was replaced by the book of common prayer. Then, in 1549, the government introduced a new book of common prayer. It initially started spontaneously at sampford courtenay in devon when a magistrate, william hellyons, enforcing the law was run through with a pitchfork by some particularly vexed catholic parishioners. Having been empty for three years and neglected for several years previously, the property was in need of complete renovation, and required a couple of very brave or mad people to take on the. What did the rebels in sampford courtenay, devon, persuade.
In 1549 the book of common prayer, presenting the theology of the english reformation, was introduced. The tension was thick in cornwall, and royal agents were understandably standoffish about working there. Just as henrys innovations provoked the pilgrimage of grace in 1536, so the more radical innovation of cranmers prayer book of 1549 provoked a massive rebellion in cornwall and devon. The village is best known for its role in the 1549 prayer book rebellion. Footnote the prayer rebellion and some observations on popular uprisings in england. The siege of exeter of 1549 the prayer book rebellion. On this date in 1550, the leaders of englands prayer book rebellion were hanged, drawn, and quartered at.
He was arrogant and people were scared that he would confiscate church property. The cornish people, few of whom spoke english, were particularly affected by this new legislation the villagers of sampford courtenay in devon. From whit sunday in 1549, it became illegal to use the old latin prayer book which. An account of the 1549 prayer book rebellion in devon and cornwall part 5. Sampford courtenay is one of the prettiest villages in middevon, a picturesque settlement full of historic thatched and stone houses. Interestingly, one of their complaints was that the mass in. The rebellion was full of very odd incidents, but it basically consisted of a royal army, sent by the lord protector of. The people of sampford courtenay in devon endured one sunday of english. By june 20 th 1549, both groups had joined together at crediton and by june 23 rd they had set up an armed camp at clyst st.
Charlotte hodgman talks to professor mark stoyle about nine places connected with the bloody uprisings. Russell entered the city of exeter in triumph before moving on to sampford courtenay where a further 1200 people were killed after a desperate lastditch fight on the evening of august 17th 1549. Around 1,400 cornish and devon soldiers were killed. The prayer book rebellion, prayer book revolt, prayer book rising, western rising or western rebellion cornish. The government sent lord russell to put down the rebellion. Born of outrage against the concept of an english liturgy, this event has gone down in history as the prayer book rebellion of 1549. It took place in the southwestern counties of devon and cornwall. Stumbling upon middletown farmhouse, in the heart of historic sampford courtenay site of the prayer book rebellion1549, was an exciting discovery. The sampford courtenay parish registers are available on microfiche from harry galloway publishers and booksellers, the cottage, manor terrace, paignton, devon tq3 3rq.
The western justices could do nothing, but help soon came from the eastern. But on whitsunday, 1549 came the order to implement the book of common prayer, as well as to strike back against cornish resistance. In that year, the book of common prayer, presenting the theology of. Sampford courtenay, devon, st andrews church history. Sampford courtenay and the immediate beginnings of the uprising. In january of 1549 the act of uniformity, a decisive next step in the reformation, received assent. Thomas underhill was one of many local leaders that protested introduction of a prayer book in english. Ignore the bit about pitchforks weapons were bills and bows the battle of sampford courtenay was one of the chief military engagements in the western rebellion of 1549. The young kings uncle edward seymour became protector. The devon fhs publishes indexes covering as of june 2004. Printed in english, the book was alien to the common people, who were accustomed to hearing their church services in latin. Hookers colourful narrative is heavily biased towards the protestant cause. The people of sampford courtenay in devon endured one sunday of english liturgy and detested the enforced change so much that the following week they forced their priest to revert to the old mass.
Sampford courtenay is most famous historically as a centre for the prayerbook rebellion of 1549 and where the rebels made their final stand. This book appears in david griffiths bibliography of the book of common prayer as 191010, and appears to take as its text an edition published in 1549 probably griffiths 15491 by edward whitchurche or whytchurche of london, or from a 19th century reprint thereof. Edward vi religious and economic protest the prayer book rebellion and ketts rebellion religious protest. This caused widespread anger, and sampford courtenay the parish priest was prevented from saying the new service. An account of the 1549 prayer book rebellion in devon and cornwall part 1. The title page of the original edition is pictured at right.
A rash gentleman, william hellyons, tried to suppress the protest and was swiftly murdered by the angry crowd. The clyst heath massacre, during the prayer book rebellion. The cornish rebels against the prayer book in english in the summer of 1549 declared that they would not accept the new service which was but like a christmas game. On whit monday 1549, it states, sampford courtenay people killed a local farmer, william hellyons, and then joined the cornish in the prayer book rebellion. How many western rebels seized exeter, and how did somerset react to this. Plaque in sampford courtenay the prayer book rebellion, also known as the western rebellion, was an uprising that took place in devon and cornwall in 1549. Cranmers book of common prayer, published in 1549, moved the church of england away from the catholic church and established it as a very protestant church. The survivors fled into cornwall where they were ruthlessly pursued and where hundreds of innocent local people were also put to death. This required all church services in the land to use cranmers new book of common prayer written in english in place of the latin mass. The prayer book rebellion, which took place in southwestern england during 1549, saw thousands unite against the changes to traditional forms of worship imposed by the government of the boyking, edward vi. The change was widely unpopular particularly in areas of still firmly catholic religious loyalty even after the act. The parishioners then marched to exeter to protest the new law. The prayer book rebellion, prayer book revolt, prayer book rising, western rising or western rebellion was a popular revolt in devon and cornwall in 1549 in that year, the book of common. The battle of sampford courtenay, the fifth and final battle of the prayer book rebellion, took place on 17 august 1549 centered in devon and cornwall, the prayer book rebellion was spurred by the catholic and west country dislike of the new anglican book of.
Those who chance across this plaque might well be forgiven for assuming its words to represent an authoritative statement of the truth, but in fact they include several errors. Thomas underhill viii of sampford courtenay was engaged in the cornish rebellion also known as the prayer book rebellion of 1549. Rebellyans an lyver pejadow kebmyn was a popular revolt in devon and cornwall in 1549. The prayer book rebellion was a popular revolt in cornwall and devon, in 1549. At the time of the doomsday book sampford courtenay was a thriving farming community but events such as the little ace age and.
He was quite incapable of appreciating the complexities that faced him and delicacy with which he would have to tread in pursuit of his aims. Soskernow, friends of cornwall henry viii, king of england, died in 1547, and was succeded by his son edward vi. By mid august 1549, humphrey arundell, the leader of the rebel troops, regrouped his forces at sampford courtenay, devon, when he received a promise that 1,000 men from winchester would join his force. Standing on sloping ground down from the main street through sampford courtenay is the attractive 15th century church of st andrew. The prayer book rebellion of 1549 part 1 devon perspectives. It covers the prayer book rebellion of 1549, one of the rebellions that occured in the tudor period as a result of the major religious upheavals at the time. At the time of the doomsday book sampford courtenay was a thriving farming community but events such as.
Which rebellions was known as the prayer book rebellion. At the time, there was already social unrest due to a poll tax on sheep, and rumours that it was due to be expanded to other forms of livestock. Book of common prayer, presenting the theology of the english reformation, was introduced. Sampford courtenay is most famous for being the place where the western rebellion, otherwise known as the prayerbook rebellion, first started in 1549, and where the rebels made their final stand in 1549, during the reign of king edward vi the boy king, son of henry viii, the wikipedia. This would be the site of the fifth and final battle of the prayer book rebellion. Abstract it is frequently claimed that the western rebels of 1549 were. Magistrates were given the task of enforcing the change. William body was a commissioner who was investigating church property in cornwall in 1547. The prayer book rebellion, which took place in southwestern. The prayer book conflict timeline cornwall for ever. In sampford courtenay in west devon, people forced their vicar to use the old.
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