Remembering Thomas Cranmer

 Tudor history is extremely popular, and with Wolf Hall, Thomas Cromwell has come to prominence .  He is appreciated as an astute politician and a 'more human' person.  He has become 'flesh and blood'.  I've always admired Cromwell the politician.  What he achieved to give Henry VIII his 'divorce' and begin reform of the Church in England was very impressive.  However, the achievements of Thomas Cranmer have somewhat faded.  What Cromwell achieved in Parliament, Cranmer achieved in the Church.  He started out as the Boleyn family's chaplain, and rose to become Archbishop of Canterbury.  He introduced the Bok of Common Prayer.  He showed loyalty to both Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell when they fell.   He managed to survive the cut throat politics of Henry VIIII's court, and was a loyal servant to Henry and his son Edward VI.  But he could not survive the wrath of Mary Tudor, and was burnt at the stake March 21st 1556 in Oxford.