Over the years when Edward IV, Mary I and Elizabeth I reigned over England and Ireland, how did the average villager view the constant religious changes that were implemented?

by Varier2
AT_Mahan

You mean Edward VI, correct?

tofagerl

Side question: How many religious changes were actually made under Edward, considering that his father never really considered himself a protestant, making Edward the first protestant king. And were those all reverted under Mary?

matholwch

An interesting perspective comes from Eamon Duffy's work on the 'Voices of Morebath,' focusing on the records kept by a parish priest, Sir Christopher Trychay, during these times. It seems that the reforms and disruption to tradition instituted under Edward were initially hated by the ordinary people in the West Country, but were gradually accepted.

The Stripping of the Altars by the same author is an in-depth study of the popular piety of the time, and argues that the religious changes were a disruption imposed from above, rather than anything arising out of popular sentiment.