Are members of the hierarchy often out of their depth? Thomas Cranmer was. A weak willed academic and career clergyman, he was bent to the will of the tyrant Henry VIII and was a quisling wormtongue. Belloc’s treatment of him is severe.

Episode 8 of my reading of an abridged version of Belloc’s classic book is now available here for Donor Subscribers. Premier Donor Subscribers and Podcast Donor Subscribers at a lower level may listen in advance without any sponsorship ads. You can now listen free (but with ads) here at BreadBox Media.

If you are new to podcasts, when you go to the podcast page on the blog you’ll see easy to follow instructions for listening. Podcasts are great for a relatively short, informal listen in your commute, when you are out on a walk or just relaxing. I hope you enjoy these podcasts and share with others.

The reason I am producing them is because I think the more we know about history the more we can understand the same tensions going on in the church today. During the time of the revolution usually called the English Reformation there were huge problems of immorality, financial corruption, struggles for power and the usual clash between church and state.

Seeing how Cranmer squirmed and wormed his way through the problems reminds us that Bishops and Archbishops are still weak men who face all the same conflicts and problems they do today.

Go here to listen to the chapter on Thomas Cranmer.