Reforming women in England and Scotland: claiming authority to speak of God

Ann Loades

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Centuries after the Reformation, the ruins of the Cathedral of St Andrew, once the centre of the medieval church in Scotland, and the memorials to men who died for their religious convictions, remain. The contribution made by such men was so important, so terrible and so costly that it led to the eventual designation of St Andrews as a Reformation City in 2017. Considering the chaos and political disruption of Scotland in the sixteenth century and the emergence of a distinctly Scottish Reformation, this chapter examines the ways in which women—Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe significant among them—engaged with ‘reformation’, claiming authority to speak of their convictions. It concludes that women embodied their authority to speak of God, provoked and precipitated ‘reform’ in the church and other social and political contexts and even today continue to inspire much-needed reform to flourish.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationContemporary feminist theologies
Subtitle of host publicationpower, authority, love
EditorsKerrie Handasyde, Cathryn McKinney, Rebekah Pryor
Place of PublicationAbingdon, Oxon
PublisherRoutledge Taylor & Francis Group
Chapter8
Pages100-116
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9781003044390
ISBN (Print)9780367490805, 9780367698904
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Mar 2021

Publication series

NameGender, theology and spirituality

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