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Jews Readmitted to England (27 July 1656)

The readmission of Jews to England in 1656 marked a quiet but profound shift in English religious life, revealing how the Reformation reshaped ideas of tolerance, Scripture, and national identity. A Return After Centuries of Exile On 27 July 1656, a small group of Sephardic Jews petitioned Oliver Cromwell’s government for permission to live openly in England. Their request was simple: allow them to worship freely, bury their dead, and trade without fear of expulsion. It was a modest appeal. Its significance was enormous. Jews had been expelled from England in 1290 by Edward I. For more than three centuries, England had no legally recognised Jewish community. Their return in 1656 was not announced with fanfare. No public decree was issued. No formal act of Parliament was passed. Instead, Cromwell quietly allowed them to stay. This understated decision became one of the most important moments in the history of religious toleration in the English-speaking world. Why Jews Were Expelled in ...
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Peter Martyr Vermigli: The Reformation’s Scholar in Exile

Peter Martyr Vermigli was one of the sharpest theological minds of the Reformation — a scholar whose life was marked by constant movement. From Italy to Strasbourg, from Oxford to Zurich, Vermigli carried the Reformation with him wherever he went.

If Bucer was the reconciler, Vermigli was the academic powerhouse.

From Italian Monk to Protestant Theologian

Born in Florence and trained in the Augustinian order, Vermigli was steeped in Scripture, languages, and the church fathers. His study of Paul and Augustine gradually drew him toward Reformation convictions. When his teaching attracted suspicion, he fled Italy — the first of many exiles — and joined the Protestant cause on the continent.

A Teacher Across Europe

Vermigli’s gift was teaching. He held major academic posts in:

  • Strasbourg

  • Oxford

  • Zurich

In each city he shaped pastors, scholars, and future leaders. His lectures on Romans, Judges, and the Eucharist were especially influential, blending deep learning with pastoral clarity.

Influence on the English Reformation

Invited to England under Edward VI, Vermigli became a key figure in the reforming movement. He:

  • advised Cranmer

  • influenced the 1552 Book of Common Prayer

  • defended Reformed teaching on the Lord’s Supper

  • helped shape the theological direction of Oxford

His debates with Catholic scholars became foundational texts for later Anglican and Reformed theology.

The Eucharistic Controversy

Vermigli is best known for his work on the Lord’s Supper. He rejected both transubstantiation and a purely symbolic view, arguing instead for a spiritual presence — a position that deeply influenced Calvin and later Reformed confessions. His careful, biblical reasoning helped stabilise Reformed sacramental theology.

A Legacy of Learning and Faithfulness

Vermigli died in Zurich in 1562, leaving behind a body of work that shaped generations of Protestant thinkers. His legacy includes:

  • major contributions to Reformed sacramental theology

  • influence on Anglican doctrine

  • rigorous biblical scholarship

  • a model of faithfulness in exile

He was a reformer who carried the classroom with him — a scholar whose wandering life helped spread the Reformation across Europe.

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