Editing Martin Bucer (section)

==Exile in England (1549–1551)==
[[File:Thomas Cranmer by Gerlach Flicke.jpg|thumb|right|[[Thomas Cranmer]] gave Martin Bucer refuge in England, where he lived his final years.]]
Bucer received several offers of sanctuary, including Melanchthon's from Wittenberg and Calvin's from Geneva. He accepted Archbishop [[Thomas Cranmer]]'s invitation to come to England; from his correspondence with several notable Englishmen, he believed that the [[English Reformation]] had advanced with some success.  On 25 April 1549 Bucer, Fagius, and others arrived in London, where Cranmer received them with full honours.{{Sfn | Hall | 1994 | pp = 144–5}}{{Sfn |Eells| 1931|pp= 401–2}}{{Sfn |Greschat|2004|pp= 227–8}}  A few days later, Bucer and Fagius were introduced to [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]] and his court.{{Sfn |Greschat|2004|p= 228}}  Bucer's wife Wibrandis and his stepdaughter Agnes Capito (daughter of [[Wolfgang Capito]]) joined him in September. The following year, Wibrandis arranged for the rest of her children and her elderly mother to come to England.{{Sfn |Greschat | 2004 |p= 257}}

Bucer took the position of [[Regius Professor of Divinity]] at the [[University of Cambridge]].  In June he entered a controversy when [[Pietro Martire Vermigli|Peter Martyr Vermigli]], another refugee who had taken the equivalent Regius Professor position at [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]], debated with Catholic colleagues over the issue of the Lord's Supper. Martyr asked Bucer for his support, but Bucer did not totally agree with Martyr's position and thought that exposure of differences would not assist the cause of reform.  Unwilling to see the eucharist conflict repeat itself in England, he told Martyr he did not take sides, Catholic, Lutheran, or Zwinglian. He said, "We must aspire with the utmost zeal to edify as many people as we possibly can in faith and in the love of Christ—and to offend no one."{{Sfn |Hall| 1994|p= 152}}{{Sfn |Eells | 1931 |p = 403}}{{Sfn | Greschat |2004|pp= 234–5}}

In 1550, another conflict arose when [[John Hooper (bishop)|John Hooper]], the new [[bishop of Gloucester]], refused to don the traditional vestments for his consecration. The [[vestments controversy]] pitted Cranmer, who supported the wearing of clerical garments, against Hooper, Martyr and [[Jan Laski]], the pastor of the [[Dutch Church, Austin Friars|Stranger church]] in London. As it was known that Bucer had reformed the church services in Strasbourg to emulate the simplicity of the early church, Hooper expected Bucer's support.  However, Bucer tried to stay out of the fray, arguing that there were more important issues to deal with—lack of pastors and pastoral care, the need for catechismal instruction, and the implementation of church discipline. Hooper refused to be swayed, and was imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]] until he accepted Cranmer's demand.{{Sfn |Hall|1994|p= 158}}{{Sfn |Greschat|2004| pp = 237–8}}

[[Image:Martin Bucer.png|thumb|left|{{Citation | title = Martin Bucer at the age of 53 | type = engraving | first = René | last = Boyvin | author-link = René Boyvin|ref=none}}.]]
Bucer had ambitious goals in diffusing the Reformation throughout England. He was disappointed, therefore, when those in power failed to consult him in bringing about change. On learning about the custom of presenting a memorandum to the king every new year, he worked on a major treatise which he gave as a draft to his friend [[John Cheke]] on 21 October 1550. The {{Citation | title = De Regno Christi |trans-title=On the Kingdom of Christ}} was the culmination of Bucer's many years of experience, a summary of his thought and theology that he described as his legacy. In it he urged Edward VI to take control of the English Reformation, and proposed that Parliament introduce fourteen laws of reform, covering both ecclesiastical and civil matters.  In his view the Reformation was not only concerned with the church, but in all areas of life. Noting the difficult social conditions in England, he promoted the role of [[deacons]] to care for the poor and needy.  He described marriage as a social contract rather than a sacrament, hence he permitted divorce, a modern idea that was considered too advanced for its time.  He advocated the restructuring of economic and administrative systems with suggestions for improving industry, agriculture, and education.  His ideal society was distinctively authoritarian, with a strong emphasis on Christian discipline.  The ''De Regno Christi'' was never to be the charter of the English Reformation that Bucer intended: it was finally printed not in England but in Basel, in 1557.{{Sfn | Hall| 1994 | pp=154–8}}{{Sfn | Greschat |2004|pp= 239–45}}

Bucer's last major contribution to the English Reformation was a treatise on the original 1549 edition of the ''[[Book of Common Prayer]]''. Cranmer had requested his opinion on how the book should be revised, and Bucer submitted his response on 5 January 1551.  He called for the simplification of the liturgy, noting non-essential elements: certain holidays in the [[liturgical calendar]], actions of [[piety]] such as [[genuflections]], and ceremonies such as private masses. He focused on the congregation and how the people would worship and be taught.  How far Bucer's critique influenced the 1552 second edition of the Prayer Book is unknown.{{Efn | Eells and Greschat do not claim a direct connection between Bucer's recommendations and the 1552 Prayer Book.{{Sfn |Greschat|2004|p=238}}{{Sfn |Eells|1931|p= 412}} Hall, however, states that of fifty-eight points made by Bucer, nearly half were accepted for the new edition of the book.{{Sfn |Hall| 1994 | pp = 158–9}} Eells and Hall note that the title of the treatise is ''Censura'';{{Sfn |Eells| 1931| p = 412}}{{Sfn | Hall| 1994 | pp = 158–9}} Greschat notes that the title was not used until after Bucer's death.{{Sfn |Greschat|2004|p= 238}}}}  Scholars agree that although Bucer's impact on the Church of England should not be overestimated, he exercised his greatest influence on the revision of the Prayer Book.{{Sfn | Greschat |2004|p= 270}}