William Tyler
The Magna Carta: The Basis of the Anglo-American Constitution
Summary
The Magna Carta is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on June 15, 1215. William Tyler explores both the creation and the significance of this powerful charter.
William Tyler
William Tyler has spent his entire professional life in adult education, beginning at Kingsgate College in 1969. He has lectured widely for many public bodies, including the University of Cambridge and the WEA, in addition to speaking to many clubs and societies. In 2009, William was awarded the MBE for services to adult education, and he has previously been a scholar in residence at the London Jewish Cultural Centre.
Actually, Henry VIII did not create Protestantism. I think I’m going to have an opportunity of talking about that at a subsequent meeting. Henry VIII died a good Catholic boy, well, a bad Catholic boy. Protestantism came about through the universities, particularly Cambridge. It came about through the clergy. It came about through those who converted to Protestantism. And it is nothing to do with Magna Carta as such at all. And Catholicism was simply replaced here by Protestantism. The interesting about Protestantism, it’s a nationalistic religion. And the Church of England is really a very odd body. It’s an entirely political construct. in the 29 articles, 39 articles, which are the basis of the governance of the Church of England, its sort of statement, if you like. The Church of England is described as Catholic, but reformed. Reformed another word for Protestant. And so it was a very much a political solution to a problem of division within the Christian Church.
Some sections do hold the force of law, and others clearly do not. But the key sections, 38, 39, 40 certainly do. Unless they’ve been incorporated in subsequent legislation. Magna Carta guarantees rights and freedoms, tell that to today’s actors who think they can make it up as they go along.