ABSTRACT
In 1551 John Hooper became the second Bishop of Gloucester, following the death of his predecessor, John Wakeman. Up until this moment the people of the Gloucester Vale had for the most part followed compliantly the trajectory of reform established through royal policy. They had witnessed jurisdictional and a few doctrinal changes but most would have been unfamiliar with Protestant dogma except as it was associated with ecclesiastical changes ordered by the king, council and parliament. To be sure, there were exceptions as we have seen through numerous examples of those who upheld Lollard or Lutheran ideas; but until Edward reached the throne in 1547 these would have been risky to adopt and declare publicly. A predisposition, perhaps even expectation, for gradual change existed for many others, however, and Hooper’s appointment as bishop would have reinforced those tendencies. An ardent evangelical with clear and practical ideas about how to institute further reform, the new bishop came to Gloucester ready to provide theological definition and coherence to a movement that previously had been rather scattered and haphazard in its initiatives and activities. In essence, Hooper encouraged not only further changes to the liturgy and religious practices but also provided a social and political theology-founded in biblical authority-that offered hope and encouragement for those seeking to usher in a new age of peace and prosperity based on a thorough understanding of the Gospel in devotion to the commonwealth. In this chapter we will look at how Hooper attempted to implement his reform vision in his diocese.
