Tumultuous Times
Lady Jane Grey: Nine Day Queen of England by Faith Cook
You’ve probably heard of Henry VIII, King of England, but
how much do you know about his niece, Lady Jane Grey? While people might
(rightly) question Henry’s commitment to genuine Christianity, it’s remarkable
to read about the genuine, steadfast faith of someone in his family.
That is how I felt reading Faith Cook’s book “Lady Jane
Grey: Nine Day Queen of England”. Odds are that if you have read about English
history, you’ll know about the reign of Henry VIII from 1509 – 1547. The period
of the Tudor Dynasty was one of the most tumultuous times in England’s history.
That’s because Henry VIII is best known for a decision that significantly
changed the course of England’s history – a split with the Roman Catholic Church
and establishment of the Church of England. The catalyst for the split? For
Henry, it was the desire to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon (he went
on to have five more wives, making him a very infamous king!). But at the same
time, religious reformers in England and Europe were also challenging the teachings
of the Roman Catholic Church, bringing about a period of great spiritual
renewal.
It was into this turbulent time that Lady Jane Grey was born
and raised. Faith Cook’s book helps bring her interesting and, ultimately,
tragic life out of the shadows of those who came before and after her. Jane was
the great niece of Henry VIII and the same age as Henry’s son and heir Prince
Edward.
What struck me the most about Cook’s opening chapters that
explain Jane’s early life was just how different growing up as a young woman in
the 1500s was to today. A high born woman was seldom seen as more than a way
for her family to gain advantage and influence at court. But as a potential
bride for Prince Edward, Jane Grey received a far more thorough education than
others her age. Through the influence of the Christian Queen Katherine Parr
(Henry’s last wife), her tutors taught Jane the reformation truths of grace,
forgiveness of sins and acceptance with God based on the work of Jesus, and she
also studied one of the first authorised English translations of the Bible.
The 1500s saw great uncertainty across England and Europe.
Behind the scenes power struggles and intrigue were common place. And all the
more when a King died. Following Henry’s death in 1547 his son Prince Edward
became king. But being only 9, a group of men made decisions on Edward’s
behalf. Brought up as a staunch Protestant, Edward and his protectors continued
the far reaching political and religious changes that his father had started.
However, being so young meant instability continued to hang over England. Sadly
for Jane, this instability would see her become an innocent victim of her
family’s desire for power.
So why read about a young woman who lived over 450 years
ago? If you haven’t read much about this period of history before, Cook does a
good job of explaining the key people and events in a straightforward and fascinating
way. I found it encouraging to read about Jane’s authentic faith and how she
sought to know God better and follow him as best she could, even when she
wasn’t in control of the circumstances and decisions in her life. These verses
from 1 Peter come to mind as I reflect on the first chapters in Cook’s book:
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you
have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of
your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by
fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of
Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see
him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled
with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
– 1 Peter 1:6-9
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.