Assuming Grindal’s injunctions were implemented, how do you think a Protestant church would have differed from a Catholic one, as described by Martyn? What do these injunctions reveal about the progress of the Reformation by 1571?
The Act of Uniformity, written in 1559, made fully clear as to how Protestant beliefs were to be pursued.
The most resolute step in this was the removal of all evidence to former 'supersticious' beliefs. Religious elements like Altarstones — wholly connected to Latin service — would have to be demolished and reused as an ordinary everyday object. Rood lofts needed to be broken down and the uncovered beam fitted with a suitable, modest decoration. This would lead to a more sober environment in which to hold religious services.
A similar kind of action was to be undertaken for the actual act of worship, where only common prayer was yet allowed. However one would be able to pray for the sick, it was prohibited to honour the dead. Not after their burial, and not even on All Saints Day or All Souls Day would it be approved to do 'any ringing at all other than to common prayer' (Archbischop of York, 1571, in Price, 2008, p.101).
As a result a protestant church not only was less exuberant, the services held there would reflect this since now only common prayer was allowed.
The fact that these instructions were written down in 1571, well into The Reformation, can be seen as prove that allthough a lot had changed already, there was still a long way to go before the Protestant church would be well-founded and rooted firmly in English tradition.