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The Penguin History of the Church #3
The Reformation
The beginning of the sixteenth century brought growing pressure within the Western Church for Reformation. The popes could not hold Western Christendom together and there was confusion about Church reform. What some believed to be abuses, others found acceptable. Nevertheless over the years three aims emerged: to reform the exactions of churchmen, to correct errors of doctrines and to improve the moral awareness of society. As a result, Western Europe divided into a Catholic South and Protestant North. Across the no man's land between them were fought the bitterest wars of religion in Christian history. This third volume of The Penguin History of the Church deals with the formative work of Erasmus, Luther, Zwingli and Calvin, and analyses the special circumstances of the English Reformation as well as the Jesuits and the Counter-Reformation.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
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432 people want to read
About the author
Owen Chadwick
104 books8 followersWilliam Owen Chadwick, OM, KBE, FBA, FRSE, was a British Anglican clergyman, academic, writer and prominent historian of Christianity. He was also a rugby union player. He was Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge, from 1956 to 1983, Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History from 1958 to 1968, and Regius Professor of History from 1968 to 1983.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 9, 2018
A traditional, excellently-written account: all big names and grand events and things that sound, to 21st century ears, rather bizarre (indigenous Americans weren't able to compete in the "adult world"?) Chadwick focuses on Britain, as is the wont of British people last century; he is surprisingly sanguine about the reformers, excusing all of their murders, insanities and horrors by mentioning, yet again, that "everyone agreed reform was needed." Perversely, he argues that i) the Reformation in England was a political event with religious consequences (seems fair) and ii) nobody much cared that the Reformation came. It's very difficult to read this after Duffy and so on have done so much work to show that, for a good many people in Britain at least, the reformation was a traumatic destruction of a way of life; but even common sense should have suggested that the reformation in England can't have been both bureaucratically imposed by a walking penis and accepted whole-heartedly by the population.
But, as I said, very nicely written, and good on the ideas of the main figures.
But, as I said, very nicely written, and good on the ideas of the main figures.
October 20, 2018
Despite being a little bit dated and lacking the context of more recent works on this subject, it's still a very good and solid introduction and it's always refreshing to read before going into something more specialized or focused on a specific timeframe.
June 3, 2013
It says something that Chadwick finally helped me understand (and in a way I can easily articulate) the difference between Calvinists and Lutherans. It is a thorough and lucid discussion of the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation as well as the roles that politics played (and vice versa) in both. The lucidity is notable since he manages not to oversimplify matters.
July 25, 2022
How did I read a mass market paperback book published in 1964 in 2022 you ask? Well, a professor of mine got a new job in Ireland and left a bunch of free books behind that we could peruse and take for free. Wanting to get a more comprehensive overview of the Reformation than I got in high school, I picked this up.
Note that it is the third book in a series of four. Other books in the series are on the Apostolic, Medieval, Enlightment/modern churches. However, if you have a basic grasp of church history, you won't miss a beat.
As far as this book goes, I think that it does a good job of providing a broad overview of the power dynamics, causes, and main players of the reformation. Interspersed with these are many interesting anecdotes that I am liable to remember for much longer than much of the core content of the book.
As far as flaws, I would say that there is an overemphasis on the English Reformation. I believe this is because the series comes from a British publisher. Nevertheless, it became annoying in places as the book went into far greater detail about England than other locations. Morever, some of the brief autobiographical sketches are briefer than others. I thought that Luther was given a far more comprehensive treatment than Calvin, to the detriment of my understanding of Calvin. Finally, the last part of the book covers changes to Worship and Service, and I felt that much of the information was extraneous or else could have been woven into the larger narrative. As it sits, it felt like the book ended on a whimper.
Overall, not a bad overview of the Reformation, but there are probably better, more modern options. If you happen across this in an old bookstore or library clearance sale, it may be worth your time. My copy will probably be going to the trash, unfortunately. The book glue and pages started to chip off and become unbound as I read it. By then end, I was using my hand just to keep the pages together to read. It's a shame, as I would have liked to have kept it for reference.
Note that it is the third book in a series of four. Other books in the series are on the Apostolic, Medieval, Enlightment/modern churches. However, if you have a basic grasp of church history, you won't miss a beat.
As far as this book goes, I think that it does a good job of providing a broad overview of the power dynamics, causes, and main players of the reformation. Interspersed with these are many interesting anecdotes that I am liable to remember for much longer than much of the core content of the book.
As far as flaws, I would say that there is an overemphasis on the English Reformation. I believe this is because the series comes from a British publisher. Nevertheless, it became annoying in places as the book went into far greater detail about England than other locations. Morever, some of the brief autobiographical sketches are briefer than others. I thought that Luther was given a far more comprehensive treatment than Calvin, to the detriment of my understanding of Calvin. Finally, the last part of the book covers changes to Worship and Service, and I felt that much of the information was extraneous or else could have been woven into the larger narrative. As it sits, it felt like the book ended on a whimper.
Overall, not a bad overview of the Reformation, but there are probably better, more modern options. If you happen across this in an old bookstore or library clearance sale, it may be worth your time. My copy will probably be going to the trash, unfortunately. The book glue and pages started to chip off and become unbound as I read it. By then end, I was using my hand just to keep the pages together to read. It's a shame, as I would have liked to have kept it for reference.
April 30, 2012
This is the third book in a series about the history of the Christian church. It is a very quick, but good overview of the events and people involved in the reformation. The chronology is a little easier to follow in this book than with others in the series, but the focus is more on broader themes that come from the reformation. Several sections focus on key individuals in the reformation like Luther and Calvin.
November 24, 2025
The way in which this book is written and the information and arguments that it presents lead one to conclude that it is nothing but an excellent book. I read it for preparation for my Oxford theology interview, and I thought it did an excellent job at communicating three things: the history of the Reformation, the theology that came out of the Reformation, and finally the outcomes of the reformation.
Firstly, thinking about the history of the Reformation that this book presents, it demonstrates that there was a swell of movement during the Reformation. FO revamped if we think of the beginning of the Reformation we have the movements that are covered within the first chapter of the book looking at Erasmus, Luther, Calvin and a little bit from Zwingli. One begins to grow in understanding that there was a lot of bad happening within the church, and to his was demonstrated through what Luther did at Wittenberg in 1917. This led to a movement of people that began to question theology. I think this is something that Chadwick is very good at demonstrating, the people who start by criticising the corruption of the Church soon begin to turn their eyes to the Vulgate, and to the theology of the Catholic Church. I think Chadwick could have then looked at the book of Tobit, because this would have demonstrated a clear attack now that the Catholic Church taught. But perhaps this is an example of Chadwick pushing a slight agenda. As he was an Anglican priest, so there could be a hesitance to talk about teachings such as indulgences having biblical grounding.
I thought that the approach to understanding the counter reformation was very good, there was a broad approach to looking at how the Catholic Church really did respond to the correctly identified criticisms of the reformers, for example the role that the Bishops play in the church, and the role of monarchs in the ruling of the church. When looking at the Americas there is a really important point that is brought up of a native going, is this person a Christian. Which shows that there is a distance at the time between what the church is teaching, and how many are carrying it out. Especially, when we think of it through the role of the Spanish and their conquests. But the book presents the really important reforming role that was played, in terms of really transforming peoples lives. This is seen through the example of the Archbishop of Lima 1580-1606, where he championed the freedoms of India and Africans. Educating them having books translated into their native languages. I think this demonstrates that in the church there were beginning to be movements of moving back to Christ. Now think about this with my Oxford applicants hat on, I would think about how in the Gospel according to Matthew Jesus says that the gates of hell will never prevail against the church. I think this bores this out, there had been a period of suffering and turmoil within the church, and with the help of the Holy Spirit the Church, with men like the Archbishop of Lima have demonstrated that the church is moving in the right direction, and is acting out the gospel in the correct and right way. I think the statistics prove this point too; between 1614 and 1646 in the Middle East 4045 Martyrs were produced, and they were produced because they were properly taught.
Finally, the way in which the book is concluding looking at the divisions that exist within Christendom is very important to understanding the significance of the role of the Reformation, because it demonstrates that it wasn’t just a one off action but rather it was a long lasting and consequential event that has changed the churhc in some ways for the better and others, it has driven a wedge in thee Christian communion.
Firstly, thinking about the history of the Reformation that this book presents, it demonstrates that there was a swell of movement during the Reformation. FO revamped if we think of the beginning of the Reformation we have the movements that are covered within the first chapter of the book looking at Erasmus, Luther, Calvin and a little bit from Zwingli. One begins to grow in understanding that there was a lot of bad happening within the church, and to his was demonstrated through what Luther did at Wittenberg in 1917. This led to a movement of people that began to question theology. I think this is something that Chadwick is very good at demonstrating, the people who start by criticising the corruption of the Church soon begin to turn their eyes to the Vulgate, and to the theology of the Catholic Church. I think Chadwick could have then looked at the book of Tobit, because this would have demonstrated a clear attack now that the Catholic Church taught. But perhaps this is an example of Chadwick pushing a slight agenda. As he was an Anglican priest, so there could be a hesitance to talk about teachings such as indulgences having biblical grounding.
I thought that the approach to understanding the counter reformation was very good, there was a broad approach to looking at how the Catholic Church really did respond to the correctly identified criticisms of the reformers, for example the role that the Bishops play in the church, and the role of monarchs in the ruling of the church. When looking at the Americas there is a really important point that is brought up of a native going, is this person a Christian. Which shows that there is a distance at the time between what the church is teaching, and how many are carrying it out. Especially, when we think of it through the role of the Spanish and their conquests. But the book presents the really important reforming role that was played, in terms of really transforming peoples lives. This is seen through the example of the Archbishop of Lima 1580-1606, where he championed the freedoms of India and Africans. Educating them having books translated into their native languages. I think this demonstrates that in the church there were beginning to be movements of moving back to Christ. Now think about this with my Oxford applicants hat on, I would think about how in the Gospel according to Matthew Jesus says that the gates of hell will never prevail against the church. I think this bores this out, there had been a period of suffering and turmoil within the church, and with the help of the Holy Spirit the Church, with men like the Archbishop of Lima have demonstrated that the church is moving in the right direction, and is acting out the gospel in the correct and right way. I think the statistics prove this point too; between 1614 and 1646 in the Middle East 4045 Martyrs were produced, and they were produced because they were properly taught.
Finally, the way in which the book is concluding looking at the divisions that exist within Christendom is very important to understanding the significance of the role of the Reformation, because it demonstrates that it wasn’t just a one off action but rather it was a long lasting and consequential event that has changed the churhc in some ways for the better and others, it has driven a wedge in thee Christian communion.
September 27, 2024
This book has travelled around with me for about 30 years - well, not this book, but the various editions I've owned and then lost or given away through my various moves. This copy I bought for $2 at a charity shop. In all that time, I've never read it cover to cover until now.
And I'm glad I did. Owen Chadwick has written a lively and comprehensive history of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, covering not only Luther's revolt, but all that followed - Presbyterianism, Anglicanism, Calvinism and all the other groups that grew from the great initial revolt at the torpor and corruption of the Catholic Church. He also covers the Catholic reaction to these changes, with the growth of the Jesuits, and the attempts to clean the Augean stables that was the Medieval Catholic Church.
We all know the outlines of the Reformation - disgusted at the corruption and sinfulness of much of the church, Luther famously set out to clean up church doctrine, liturgy and ritual. He never intended to set up a rival religion, but, partly through mismanagement by the Pope, and the political situation in Northern Germany, that is what happened. Once the Pandora's box was open, many went further than Luther in ridding religion of ritual, music, pictures, bishops, and in fact most of what made the Catholic Church the Catholic Church.
Chadwick covers both the political and religious sides of the history, and explains how the Catholic Church "fought back", with Jesuits and Dominicans in particular bringing the Catholic Church back to the people. Chadwick also writes about the Church's move into the Americas, and how the way the Conquistadors treated the natives made many churchmen consider what the church should be to all people, and how Christ's message should be delivered.
Chadwick weaves his way through the chronology of the Reformation quite skillfully, and towards the end has an interesting chapter on how the average peasant coped with the changes that occurred not only in areas that turned Protestant, but also in the Catholic world, where services changed and many excesses were done away with.
Overall, if you want to read a comprehensive, well-written account of the religious upheavals of the Sixteenth Century, this is well worthwhile.
Check out my other reviews at http://aviewoverthebell.blogspot.com.au/
And I'm glad I did. Owen Chadwick has written a lively and comprehensive history of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, covering not only Luther's revolt, but all that followed - Presbyterianism, Anglicanism, Calvinism and all the other groups that grew from the great initial revolt at the torpor and corruption of the Catholic Church. He also covers the Catholic reaction to these changes, with the growth of the Jesuits, and the attempts to clean the Augean stables that was the Medieval Catholic Church.
We all know the outlines of the Reformation - disgusted at the corruption and sinfulness of much of the church, Luther famously set out to clean up church doctrine, liturgy and ritual. He never intended to set up a rival religion, but, partly through mismanagement by the Pope, and the political situation in Northern Germany, that is what happened. Once the Pandora's box was open, many went further than Luther in ridding religion of ritual, music, pictures, bishops, and in fact most of what made the Catholic Church the Catholic Church.
Chadwick covers both the political and religious sides of the history, and explains how the Catholic Church "fought back", with Jesuits and Dominicans in particular bringing the Catholic Church back to the people. Chadwick also writes about the Church's move into the Americas, and how the way the Conquistadors treated the natives made many churchmen consider what the church should be to all people, and how Christ's message should be delivered.
Chadwick weaves his way through the chronology of the Reformation quite skillfully, and towards the end has an interesting chapter on how the average peasant coped with the changes that occurred not only in areas that turned Protestant, but also in the Catholic world, where services changed and many excesses were done away with.
Overall, if you want to read a comprehensive, well-written account of the religious upheavals of the Sixteenth Century, this is well worthwhile.
Check out my other reviews at http://aviewoverthebell.blogspot.com.au/
June 2, 2024
One of the best introductory books on the reformation I have yet read. Certainly a classic in its field. Chadwick not only does a great job pacing himself and offering a fairly unbiased analysis, but he also just writes in such a snappy and entertaining way, it really helps move the pages. His one-liners and concise summaries help wrap up or explain a movement or person memorably and succinctly. Historians don't seem to write like this anymore. Here are some examples:
"Religious philosophy was falling into disrepute. The rope of Nominalism was throttling the windpipe through which the philosophers had breathed." (p. 35)
"Luther's ultimate religious act was an utter trust in a redeeming savior, his ultimate text 'the just shall live by faith.' Calvin's ultimate religious act was the assent of the will to an everlasting Lord; his ultimate text, 'thy will be done." (p. 93)
[On Catholic Missionaries in the New World] "The missionaries loved their peoples, but sometimes like a possessive parent who will not risk their growing up." (331).
[On the decline of papal power, specifically the interdict, in the 16th century]: "If he laid an interdict upon the city of Venice, it was useful only if Milan for secular reasons wished to attack Venice. And the weapon had continued to be used on bizarre occasions, as when Pope Urban VI, besieged in the castle at Nicer, appeared at a window three times a day, with bell, book, and candle, solemnly and absurdly to excommunicate the besiegers." (p. 376)
Chadwick also weaves many personal stories he has gleaned from primary source reading that is both impressive from a scholarly viewpoint, but also entertaining and enlightening for the reader.
My one gripe, there are no footnotes or endnotes to track down these citations, but there is an extensive, through often out-of-date, reading list at the end.
"Religious philosophy was falling into disrepute. The rope of Nominalism was throttling the windpipe through which the philosophers had breathed." (p. 35)
"Luther's ultimate religious act was an utter trust in a redeeming savior, his ultimate text 'the just shall live by faith.' Calvin's ultimate religious act was the assent of the will to an everlasting Lord; his ultimate text, 'thy will be done." (p. 93)
[On Catholic Missionaries in the New World] "The missionaries loved their peoples, but sometimes like a possessive parent who will not risk their growing up." (331).
[On the decline of papal power, specifically the interdict, in the 16th century]: "If he laid an interdict upon the city of Venice, it was useful only if Milan for secular reasons wished to attack Venice. And the weapon had continued to be used on bizarre occasions, as when Pope Urban VI, besieged in the castle at Nicer, appeared at a window three times a day, with bell, book, and candle, solemnly and absurdly to excommunicate the besiegers." (p. 376)
Chadwick also weaves many personal stories he has gleaned from primary source reading that is both impressive from a scholarly viewpoint, but also entertaining and enlightening for the reader.
My one gripe, there are no footnotes or endnotes to track down these citations, but there is an extensive, through often out-of-date, reading list at the end.
December 21, 2019
Neither here nor there:
Lack of either analysis of the thought of Luther, Melanchthon, Calvin, Zwingli or so on, or a social history of the time.
I was left feeling like I didn’t understand this time period much more than when I started.
Not the go to for a primer of the reformation by any means. At least for me anyway.
Lack of either analysis of the thought of Luther, Melanchthon, Calvin, Zwingli or so on, or a social history of the time.
I was left feeling like I didn’t understand this time period much more than when I started.
Not the go to for a primer of the reformation by any means. At least for me anyway.
March 31, 2021
A truly excellent survey which I would recommend to any who want to understand the protestant formation and catholic reformation of the 1500s. Well written, fairly unbiased and broad in scope, I found myself thinking about this book even when I was reading other books, which is rare.
August 10, 2017
Great overview capturing more emotion of the reformation the previous books I read on the subject.
April 16, 2019
I liked it.
March 12, 2020
Very educational!
July 18, 2023
Excellent insights and analysis throughout! Very helpful!
June 10, 2025
I missed out on so much tea as a Jew
December 12, 2025
It goes into terrific detail and is very well written.
November 6, 2017
The first thing to be said is that disappointingly for those likely to pick up a 'Pelican History of the Church', this is not a history of the reformation - rather it is more like just thoughts and reflections on the reformation period. It covers far more than the reformation itself but doesn't really explain the reformation or indeed anything else - rather it's an expert musing on a range of topics. That being said there is lots of good material herein. However there is also far too much unexplained jargon, the sequence of events is very hard to follow due to the thematic approach and at times the phrasing is quite awkward. The book would have been a lot better organised had it leaned closer to a chronological structure while still dealing in themes within each time sequence.
January 26, 2024
Chadwick is fair-minded to all sides, which is difficult in such a polarizing period. An engaging read from start to finish.
October 14, 2015
Still a decent account of the Reformation, although old-fashioned and far too Britain-centered in its scope. Chadwick never really gets a grip on why the issues debated during the Reformation were so vitally important to common people or on the ways in which the slow dividing of Europe along confessional lines affected ordinary life. His treatment is based heavily around portraits of a few great men - Luther, Calvin, Henry VIII, etc. - to the exclusion of much else.
For a far superior introduction to the topic, with much greater scope and an insightful introduction to the issues which aroused such furious dispute, read Diarmaid MacCulloch's The Reformation.
For a far superior introduction to the topic, with much greater scope and an insightful introduction to the issues which aroused such furious dispute, read Diarmaid MacCulloch's The Reformation.
August 23, 2015
Why did Reformation happen when it happened and how? Why did Reformation happen differently in different places? What did the different groups of Protestants disagree over? What was the Catholic church like when the Protestants protested and what was it like after? How did an average layman in an average church in England or Sweden or Germany experience the tectonic shifts of the time?
This book answers the big questions--and some of the little ones--about this period of church history that still so powerfully shapes Christianity today. Solid, reliable, robust and readable, this is a great work of history -- especially for non-academics or scholars looking for a broad overview.
This book answers the big questions--and some of the little ones--about this period of church history that still so powerfully shapes Christianity today. Solid, reliable, robust and readable, this is a great work of history -- especially for non-academics or scholars looking for a broad overview.
December 6, 2021
Oct 2021. Happen to own this volume recommended by Diarmaid MacCulloch.
After 200 pages, not the clearest or neatest stylist. Glad to have read MacCulloch first, for Chadwick is speeding through the material.
After 300 pages: "The study of history, however partial, cannot exist without sooner or later breeding truth and impartiality" (304). Something I needed to hear right now.
Finished. Judgment unchanged. Good ideas expressed oddly if not poorly.
After 200 pages, not the clearest or neatest stylist. Glad to have read MacCulloch first, for Chadwick is speeding through the material.
After 300 pages: "The study of history, however partial, cannot exist without sooner or later breeding truth and impartiality" (304). Something I needed to hear right now.
Finished. Judgment unchanged. Good ideas expressed oddly if not poorly.
November 4, 2012
Chadwick is probably my favorite author of the Penguin History series. But I did like his book on the early church much better but that might be because that I find that era of history more fascinating than this one.
April 28, 2015
Concise introduction to the history of Reformation. The author focuses more on political events, everyday life of the clergy and laymen. The theological debates are outlined but not discussed in detail.
July 7, 2012
Great teaching tool. Enjoyable read. Covers so much territory in a small book.
Want to read
August 6, 2016Alan Jacobs: Diarmaid McCullough (whose massive book on the Reformation is probably the best one out there) has called Chadwick's book the best short version on the subject.
January 26, 2015
An excellent summary of the reformation and the counter reformation. It has made me want to read more on the period.
October 1, 2015
Good stuff. Well balanced between sweeping historical survey and more intimate case studies. More than worth one's time.
February 26, 2016
This is slightly old but very informative
October 12, 2025
It's hard to completely cover such a profound historical event in one book and Chadwick provides a condensed, digestible version of the reformation.
Read
January 20, 2019Nice
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews