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The Lateran Palace, Rome

The lateran Palace served as the resident of the Pope for many years, and attached to it was the Lateran Basilica. The palace has a rich and grand history in regards to both the Catholic Church and the reformation.

The Lateran Palace in Rome served as the Papal palace for a while, but to a student of the Reformation, the name of the Lateran Palace conjures up associations with the Lateran Councils. The fifth Lateran Palace in specific was called by Pope Julius II to address the issues of reformative concerns in Europe.

The intent was to address the clerical abuses that were tarnishing the churches reputation and undermining the central authority of the Pope. They aimed to strengthen the total power of the Pope as the head, and in part, they aimed to remove future dissent. However, this failed as not much later Martin Luther posted the 95 Thesis on the door of the Wittenberg Chapel. Many issues had tarnished the reputation of the Catholic Church, but among them, the simony (buying of office), and pluralism (holding many offices), and conciliarism (the belief that councils could control a pope).

One surprising element about the Lateran Palace was how it underwent so much construction. During the Avignon papacy, the lateran palace fell into decay, and in an effort to save it, it was rebuilt grander and greater and more renaissance-like, all in an effort to show off the power and might of the Catholic Church.

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The John Knox House, Edinburgh

As previously discussed, John Knox was a central figure in the Reformation--not only in Scotland, but throughout Europe. The reach of his specific doctrine would extend into the New World, and it would have profound impacts.

Knox was a huge figure in the Reformation, and he was the father of the reformation in Scotland. Though we have covered some of the High Kirk and its significance, the life of Knox is more complex than just his time behind the podium.

He was a member of a group that conquered the St. Andrews Castle and used it as a Reformative stage. Here, in this time and place, Scotland was still Catholic, and the French were involved too. They, having a strong ally in the Scottish Catholics, were called into the skirmish, and they captured the castle and Knox. While he worked as a galley slave on French ships, he found a trial that strengthened his faith and renewed his fervor. Once he was release, he went to England for a while, and this was good for a while, until the reign of Mary Tudor (or "bloody Mary"). He then fled for his life to Geneva, where he found a friend in the famous reformer John Calvin. These Johns worked together, studied together, and developed their theologies together, but there would be some differences. For one, Knox believed in violence if it instituted the reforms that he though necessary for the health of the Church.

While the duration of the Knox's stay is question, this house serves as a museum and a representation of his presences in this city. His involvement and his fiery preaching caused a widespread reform in Scotland, and the Presbyters of Calvins model had become so central to his teaching, that it became the face and the title of his own system. The impact of the life of Calvin can also be seen in the proximity of the house to the High Kirk; in this his relation and involvement can be seen.

This was a surprise building to see because it was so old. It was one of the oldest houses still standing in the city of Edinburgh, and it remains a central building for gatherings and street profferers, because of the angle at which it was set. The building was nothing fancy or ornate, but it was not large or expansive either.

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High Kirk of Scotland

The High Kirk (or St. Giles Cathedral) is a great piece of Scottish and Reformation history. It shows the development of the Scottish Presbyterian Church. This church served as the battleground for the Presbyterian movement. It is a living piece of Scottish history.

I chose this in particular because I love Scotland. It is an amazing country and one of the friendliest we have ever traveled. The History of the Presbyterian birth and Knox's involvement therewithin, are less than pleasant though. It was a violent start to this church, and it had its start here in St. Giles Cathedral. In 1559, Knox gave his first sermon here, and in it, he brutally attacked what he viewed as corrupt catholic inherited practices. He was in favor of the Calvinist views of Switzerland, and he was determined to bring this view back to his home of Scotland's capital, Edinburgh. One of the greatest ties between the Scottish Presbyterian Church and St. Giles is found in the protest of the Anglican prayer books that were introduced. This famous riot would aid in the religious war that would follow, and through that war--as war is always sad but that can yield some good, too--the distinctions between the Scots, Irish, and English and their subsequent religious structures would be determined in this war. This war, the War of the Three Kingdoms, would undoubtedly have its ties to St. Giles and the stout preaching of John Knox.

One thing that surprised me about the High Kirk was the connection between this church and the political scene of Scotland. It was the home to the Scotish Parliament for a long while, and it has been the site of many religious, social, and civic ceremonies and gatherings. In recent times, the queen was taken here for a while in a sort of "waiting in state" ceremony after her passing: it was a show of unity and peace between the crown, which once imposed prayer books, and the people, who back then rebelled and protested against the King of Great Briton.

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Westminster Abbey

Besides being a place of immense political importance, Westminster has a deep religious history, twisting and changing as times and churches changed. Through this historical site, one can observe the effects of a societal and religious change that would be so important in the course of not only English history but also of the Western history as a whole.

I chose this place for the "Elements Project" in Ref. History because there was a lot of Anglican influence evident in the ancient halls of Westminster Abbey. While it, like all the old churches in England was at one time Catholic, it was converted into an Anglican Church. But what made this one stand out and really catch my interest was the fact that it was more than just a church, it was a foundational civic building for the English people as well. All the Monarchs since William the Conqueror have been coronated in Westminster. It not only serves as the coronation site for the monarchs, but it serves as the final resting place for over 3,000 people. It holds many monarchs, scientists, poets, and explorers.

This famous site has many connections to the Reformation Movement. One of the biggest--or most obvious when one observes the name--is that the building originally served as a abbey (facility for monks; monastery), but after the Reformation, it was converted over to a "cathedral." It, along with all other monasteries was dissolved. Those that had value were converted into used churches for the laity, not monks. One other interesting element of this conversion was the connection between the political views of the monarchs and the religious views of the monarchs, and these two things together make the structure of the English church. The absorption of the abbey into the crown allowed it to go from Catholic to Protestant, but then later, it was converted back to a benedictine monastery by the Catholic Queen, Mary Tudor ("Bloody Mary"). Remnants of the two different religious systems can still be observed inside the abbey, and also, the unity of the church and the state and their close interrelationship is clearly observed in the architecture and the burial place of certain monarchs who did not want to be in a protestant section of the burial plots.

It is beautiful and full of history; it is certainly worth visiting if ever you are in London.

One thing that surprised me about the Abbey was the sheer number of people buried inside and what it shows about the abbey. There were so many famous poets, so many famous scientists, and there were many many monarchs. The strangest thing was that while we were overhearing the tour guide in front of us, we heard that Darwin was buried just beneath us. We looked down, and sure enough, he was there--or his gravestone was. It was weird to see how someone who was very clearly opposed in thought and life to the very concept of Christianity was buried inside a church, and this again shows how the Abbey has become more than just a church. It has turned into a civil building with a deep religious heritage; this combined with the religious heritage and elements makes it a unique place to observe the birth of Anglicanism in a well-preserved "battlegroud."

(p. s. -- The coronation chair is also super cool. Crowds can be excessive, but it is worth fighting with to get to see so much. But, most importantly, it is a great experience unique to England and uniquely English.)

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St. Paul's Cathedral, London:

St. Paul's Cathedral in London is a great example of the perseverance of a people and of the church despite the changes of society, people, and the coming and going of catastrophe. The original "St. Paul's" was built by the Normans after the invasion, and it served as a great example of Romanesque architecture. This cathedral was built after a fire destroyed an earlier one (or two) St. Paul's. And sadly, this great example of Romanesque Architecture was also destroyed by a fire in 1666, but before that, the Cathedral was reborn by the tides of the reformation. Henry VIII was responsible for the reformative efforts observed in St. Paul's Cathedral. Once it was converted over, it became a central place for the reformation in England specifically as they developed a specific state headed church. The church relics (bones in particular) were dispersed in a local open area. These items previously viewed as holy were treated as common and thrown on the ground. It was re-imagined as something distinctly different from the formerly catholic building.

Sadly, once again, the building was destroyed, but the religious spirit persevered. Again, a fire destroyed the church, but now since it was different than the original catholic building, there was a new path paved for a new building that did not follow the traditional outlines of a catholic church. The new building was made by Wren, one of Englands primmer architects. One thing that surprised me was the way that the building survived so much catastrophes, changed so much with the Reformation, and yet, remains a strong symbol of the church in England. It survived the bombing of London, and it remained a symbol of strength amid all of the change--especially the reformation, which would effect all the English.