Supremacy and Survival: How Catholics Endured the English Reformation

by Stephanie A. Mann

The persecution of Catholics began in 16th century England and tested the Church for over 250 years. Penal laws labeled Catholic believers as traitors and brought fines, imprisonment, and even execution. Prominent persons such as Thomas More, Edmund Campion, and Margaret Clitherow were martyred, while others quietly endured suspicion or harassment to teach and pass on their faith to others, but died peacefully in their beds. The official persecution slowly subsided as threats to England's external power waned in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century, intellectual converts such as John Henry Newman and Henry Manning brought the merits of Catholicism a new respect in the eyes of Protestant public opinion. This enabled the unfolding of a wide-ranging apologetic that would fall to 20th century figures such as G.K. Chesterton, Hilaire Belloc, and Ronald Knox. This book tells the story of the Catholic Church's survival and restoration in one land. It serves both as a lesson and a warning of the risks to faith and freedom when absolute power is given free reign.

Genres: History, Catholic

212 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2007

About the author

Author of Supremacy and Survival: How Catholics Endured the English Reformation, published 2009 by Scepter. MA and BA in English Literature from Wichita State University.

Freelance teacher, author and writer. Blogs at www.supremacyandsurvival.blogspot.com"

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author covers four centuries in 150 pages with consummate skill, mostly letting the facts speak for themselves.

And what facts! If, like me, you knew only the general outline of the story and hadn't given it much thought since your 10th Grade Modern European History class, the book is a must-read. English Catholicism is an incredible adventure story with so much tragedy and heroism and more than a few missed opportunities.

The book is irenic throughout, laying out the complexities on both sides and, at the end, emphasizing the good relations that now exist between the Anglican and Catholic Churches in the U.K.

Indeed, it ends on a high note, with the beatification of John Henry Newman and Pope Benedict XVI's establishment of the Anglican Ordinariate where "Hope is engendered by the Anglican Use Rite (now the Divine Worship Missal), the beauty of English choral music, and most of all the zeal of converts describing their journeys to the Catholic Church."

From burning the Book of Common Prayer when the government tried to replace the Mass with it, to taking the Anglican patrimony with them back to Rome, English Catholicism has many ironies in the fire. And a heroic story that should be better known. Highly recommended.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially covers the English Reformation. Most amazing element of this book is how much time and how many events were covered in such a short book! Not a rush, but extremely readable and she addresses the problem of keeping people and events straight by offering two different types of references in the front of the book, as well as suggested further reading. A great introduction to a complex but essential time in history. Mann definitely sypathizes with the Catholics here but never once does she delve into making Protestants mosters but treats every one with objective respect while also clearing up some people history has tended to treat unfairly and she explains why. One thing I was surprised to read was her account of the Puritans and Cromwell's stint as Protector. Ms. Mann goes a step further and sweeps briefly through Catholicism up to now in England. I was surprised to learn how unfairly English subjects were treated by choosing to be Catholic up till the Catholic relief act which only happened mid-19th century! In short a great read!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supremacy and Survival is a useful, and on the whole, well-written account of the English Reformation and its aftermath with respect to the Roman Catholic population in England. At times, especially in the latter chapters, it tends to be little more than a list of personalities, events, publications, etc., and in some chapters Mann relates historical events out of order without referencing dates, which can be a little confusing. This is not a work of original research. However, it is a rather short book (149 pages of text), it contains some "Questions for Discussion", "Suggestions for Further Reading", as well as End Notes, and, as I said, it is well written, so in my opinion it serves well as an overview to the topic.

[Kevin de Ataíde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and easy-to-read religious history of the last five centuries in England, stretching over the Tudor, Stuart and Hanoverian dynasties and dealing with the changing fate of Christians, and particularly Catholics, in England. Well recommended for a quick overview of the English Reformation (which was quite different from its counterpart on the Continent) and its lasting effects.

[Andrew Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather superficial gloss on a long period

[MARIA ELENA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Book!

I LOVED this book! It is so well written and gave me a sweeping history of the Catholic Church in England from Henry VIII to Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good overview of the Catholic Experience in England from Henry VIII's break with the Church through the present day. Mann condenses thorough research into a brief but comprehensive history. Her sources include books that I've attempted to read previously, but had to lay aside as everyday busyness cut into the time I could devote to dense academic prose. Now, I'm tempted to pick up Eamon Duffy's The Stripping of the Altars: Traditional Religion in England, 1400-1580 once again, to reacquaint myself with the richness of lay Catholicism in the days before Henry's "Great Matter."