Appreciating the past
Lady Jane Grey: Nine Day Queen of England by Faith Cook
Faith Cook weaves two intriguing narratives through her book
Lady Jane Grey: Nine Day
Queen of England. The first is an account of the political and religious
events of the 1500s. Alongside these events we get a very personal picture of
what living during this turbulent time was like, through the life of Lady Jane
Grey. A genuine Christian, we follow Jane as she tries to live as a Protestant
among many (including her own parents) who were only interested in improving
their political and economic standing.
One of the explanations of historical events of the time
that I found most thought-provoking was how the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) was
introduced by Thomas Cramner in 1549. Maybe you attend a church meeting that
uses the green prayer books? Or maybe your church has a congregation who use
them on a regular basis? While the language has been updated, the structure and
content of this way of Christians meeting together has largely remained
unchanged for 450 years!
It’s hard to imagine now, but the BCP caused considerable
outrage when it was introduced. For many, it King Edward’s clearest attempt to
make England a Protestant nation. I found it encouraging to read about Edward’s
intent for all people to be able to worship God in English (rather than Latin)
and read the Bible for themselves (where
previously it had been exclusively the role of clergy). So many generations of
people have been brought to a saving relationship with Christ through his Word
as a result. I think that it has given me a better appreciation of the BCP, and
the richness of it’s wording too.
Conflict and upheaval was reflected in Lady Jane’s life too.
As Jane grew closer to becoming a teenager, her family’s quest to find her a
suitable husband intensified. Yes you did read that right – a teenager! Really,
the search had begun when she was still a small child. Sadly, Jane had little
choice and wasn’t consulted in the decision. Her parents, motivated by
political greed, wanted to position Jane as a Protestant alternative to succeed
King Edward. The teenage king seemed frail and the possibility of Henry VIII’s
eldest daughter Mary, a staunch Roman Catholic, ascending the throne if Edward
died young was a constant threat. So it was decided that Jane would marry
Guilford Dudley, a family friend also from an influential Protestant family.
These were particularly hard times for Jane. However, as
Cook shares, it was these experiences that further refined her faith in God:
“Such
circumstances sent Jane ever more frequently to that strong source of
consolation for the Christian, the presence and sustaining power of Christ… The
truths of the gospel were all important to her; she read the Scriptures
diligently, using her Greek to help her understand the New Testament. Through
the harsh experiences in her life, she was learning the way into God’s presence
in prayer, seeking him for the strength she needed.” (p101).
These convictions would be extremely important in the events
of Jane’s life yet to come. Because while there were genuine Christians
interested in reforming the church and encouraging the faithful teaching of the
Bible, others were only interested in these changes for their own political and
economic gain. But either way, a Roman Catholic Queen on the throne would
present serious problems for all those interested in the Reformation’s
continued progress.
Only a few months after Jane’s wedding, the 15 year old King
Edward died. I appreciated Cook’s poetic description of the afternoon Edward
died:
“A violent thunderstorm broke over London that afternoon, as
though symbolic of the stormy years that lay ahead, particularly for the men
and women who were faithful to the great truths of the Reformation – those
truths that had transformed the lives of many in all parts of the land”.
That statement would indeed ring true in Jane’s life.
About this month's contributor, Sarah Cameron
I love to read, but don't get much time at the moment as looking after my toddler keeps me on my toes. I’m thankful to be part of the St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield and Bossley Park church family, where Gus my husband is an Assistant Minister. Not originally from the South West, our free time is spent exploring the local area, experiencing new foods and getting to know people from different backgrounds.