Mark Stoyle follows the progress of the so-called “Prayer Book Rebellion”, and explores how this dramatic revolt almost changed the course of Tudor history

By Emily Briffett

Published: Tuesday, 07 February 2023 at 12:00 am


The Western Rising of 1549 was the most catastrophic event to occur in Devon and Cornwall between the Black Death and the Civil War. What started as an argument between two men and their local vicar grew into a determined attempt by ordinary English people to halt the Reformation. Speaking with Emily Briffett, Mark Stoyle reveals how thousands of 16th-century men and women rebelled to defend their faith.

Mark Stoyle is the author of A Murderous Midsummer: The Western Rising of 1549 (Yale University Press, 2022)