Explain why Edward VI dissolved the Chantries

Chantries : religious houses/chapels where prayers for the dead were sung/chanted.

RELIGIOUS - Fundamental reason

• Protestants do not believe in Purgatory (where you are puished for your sins before you go to heaven or hell)
• Prayers were sung in to Chantries in order to speed the dead on through Purgatory - Protestants didn't believe in Purgatory, thus no need for Chantries.
• Both Edward and Somerset (Regent at the time) were Protestant by conviction where as the Henrician Church during Henry VIII's reign, was essentially Catholicism without a Pope.
• The dissolution was part of the Edwardian doctrinal changes to the church (Chantries Act of 1547 - 2374 Chantries closed down)

ECONOMIC (gain)

• Worth 20% of the land of the dissolution.
• Somerset needed funds to finance the ongoing Scottish garrett/ French war.
• Couldn't raise taxes due to high inflation and price rises at the time - Kett's rebellion.
• Cost of cannon increasing.
• Create Edward VI grammar schools - protestant schools (religious reason)

CONCLUSION: part of the Edwardian doctrinal reformation in England and Wales - Economic gain only a benefit for Somerset.