She was a nine day queen. Yes, Lady Jane Grey was the nine day queen of England. In fact, her reign was so brief, she has never been remembered as Queen Jane, only as Lady Jane Grey and often is completely forgotten in English history altogether. Despite this, she left a mark on the church because she lived and died for her High King, Jesus Christ.

The Culture of England

Before Lady Jane was born, the monarchy in England was in constant disarray. King Henry VIII disdained his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, because Catherine had failed to give him a baby boy and heir. He asked the pope for permission to end his marriage with Catherine. When the pope refused, the king decided he did not need the pope’s permission to divorce Catherine. Instead, Henry declared that he was the supreme head of the Church of England, making it possible to end his marriage. Just as the monarchy was in disarray, the church was in a period of great change. The Reformation had begun during the first few years of King Henry’s reign and caused the religious climate of England to sway back and forth between Protestantism and Catholicism. As King Henry became the head of the English churches, he expected his subjects to believe and worship like he did. King Henry allowed distribution and use of English bibles (which had been forbidden for many years), and he started conducting some church services in English. But King Henry didn’t agree with every teaching that the Reformers taught. Some of the teachings were, in fact, considered illegal under Henry’s rule. One could be arrested and even sentenced to die for some of these doctrines. These were the times, while political and religious chaos abounded, in which Lady Jane Grey lived her whole life. Jane’s childhood years brought the light of Christ into her life; her faith, which God gave to her as a young girl, persevered throughout her life; and the faith that she had to the end, left a legacy for the church.

The Young Years of Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey was born in 1537 in Leicester, England and was the oldest daughter of Henry Grey and Lady Frances Brandon. Henry Grey was the Duke of Suffolk as well as a rich nobleman, and Jane’s mother, Lady Frances Brandon, was the niece of King Henry VIII. Though her parents were not particularly loving, Jane was still given the best possible education. She learned German, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, embroidery, music, fine arts, and she was fluent in French and Italian. When Jane was 10 years old, as was customary at that time, she was invited to live with the nobleman, Thomas Seymour, where she continued her education. Thomas was married to Katherine Parr, who had been the late King Henry VIII’s last wife. During this time in their home, Jane’s life changed. Jane liked Katherine who cared for and loved her. Katherine regularly had Bible studies among the women of the court, and it was there at the Bible studies that Jane came to faith in Christ. The most important thing to Katherine and Jane was the message of the gospel. In the mornings and evenings, everyone in the castle gathered to pray and read God’s word, including family, visitors, and even servants. Katherine and Jane attended faithfully and were growing in Christ day by day. In August 1548, a baby girl was born to Thomas and Katherine. A short time after the baby was born, Katherine died. During this sad time, Jane’s father, Henry Grey, asked if Jane might come home. Still lamenting, Thomas agreed to send her home, but only a few days later changed his mind as he had further plans to bring Prince Edward (the son of King Henry VIII) and Lady Jane together in marriage. Henry Grey and Lady Frances Brandon were not sure if Jane should return to Thomas’s house but finally allowed her to go. These young years in the home of the Seymours, both bright and difficult, brought the light of Christ into her heart and changed her life forever.

Edward, the Son of Henry VIII, King of England

A few months after Jane Grey had been born in 1537, King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, his third wife, finally had a baby boy and future heir, whom they named Edward. And while Lady Jane was growing in the home of her parents and the Seymour’s, Edward too was growing and being educated in much the same way as Jane, including learning the doctrines of the Reformers. At the age of 9, upon the death of his father, Edward was crowned king, though he had an uncle who acted as regent. England was in a tumultuous time, but Edward, with the help of his council, sought to keep England a Protestant nation. He was fiercely committed to the doctrines of the Reformers and continued to spread the gospel during his reign. In 1552, at the age of 15, Edward became ill with tuberculosis. When it seemed possible that he would die and having concern that the throne would pass to Mary, his Catholic half-sister, Edward wrote a will stating that Lady Jane Grey would become the next heir (completely unbeknownst to Jane). This will was contrary to the will of his father, Henry VIII, who had selected Mary as the next in line to inherit the throne. Lady Jane Grey was the fourth in line. But knowing her love of Christ, Edward chose her to lead England in Protestant ways.

Lady Jane Grey Becomes Queen - for Nine Days

King Edward died on July 6th, 1553. Upon his death, Jane was told that she would become queen. This news was shocking! In fact, Jane fainted! She did not want to be queen. But then she asked God to help her rule to His glory and to the service of the kingdom if it was His will. She was crowned Queen of England on July 10, 1553. When Jane was chosen to be queen, Mary was livid. England was stunned. Only days later, Mary marched in to England and, with the support of the country and Jane’s former council, was crowned queen on July 19th, 1553. Jane’s reign ended. Mary ordered her imprisoned in the house of Nathaniel Partridge, who was the Tower’s jailer.

With Mary on the throne, many people began converting back to Catholicism, some out of fear of death. When Jane learned of this, she prayed asking God to help her never forsake her faith, not even for “love of life” even if it meant more years to live. Not even this news, nor her imprisonment could shake her faith.

The Death of Lady Jane

In November 1553, Jane was tried in court and found guilty of treason. She was sentenced to die. Jane was determined to live her last days as a true Christian keeping her faith and showing confidence in God. While Jane awaited the day of her execution, she wrote a long prayer to God showing her faith: “...in spite of all her sins, His ‘Son Christ shed His precious blood on the cross’ for her. Because of this, she knew that all her troubles were meant only for good. ‘I am absolutely persuaded that all that Thou doest can only be well’ she said. She also quoted many Bible verses, showing that she knew the Scriptures well.”2 Mary sent a monk named John Feckenham to Jane to try to convince her to change her mind about her religion. Jane could never do that though, and she talked to John Feckenham explaining that the teachings of the church should not contradict the Bible. “I ground my faith on God’s Word and not upon the church.”2 Feckenham returned several times but Jane still clung to her conviction. During the last hours before her execution, Jane wrote letters to her sister, Katherine, and to her father. In the letter to her sister, Jane wrote that she was rejoicing that she would “lose a mortal life to win an immortal life.”2 Jane also gave Katherine her Greek New Testament. To her father, Jane wrote a loving and encouraging letter in her prayer book. She then asked an officer of the Tower to pass the letter to her father after her death. The officer agreed to show Jane’s letter to her father, but since Harry Gray was condemned to die as well (because of his involvement in a rebellion against Queen Mary), the officer asked if he could keep her prayer book and if she could write a message for him. Jane wrote a caring message, encouraging the officer to follow God’s truth. As she walked to the Tower Green where she would be executed, she read from her prayer book all the way. Before Jane was beheaded, she spoke to the on lookers, confessing her sin and giving thanks to God for having given her time to repent. She then said, “I pray you all, good Christian people, to bear me witness that I die a true Christian woman, and that I look to be saved by none other means but only by the mercy of God and the merits of the blood of His only Son Jesus Christ.”2 Jane read Psalm 51 aloud. Her last words were the same Jesus cried from the cross, “Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” On February 12, 1554, at the age of 16, Jane was beheaded.

Lady Grey’s Legacy for the Church

Jane’s example of her faith and steadfastness to her God is a legacy for the church. Her faith did not waiver even to the end. As a young girl, she respected and tried to follow the Reformers wisdom. When difficult things happened to Jane, she could have rejected and blamed God for them, but she trusted that God did what was best. Even though she did not want to become queen she asked God to help her rule England well and to glorify Him. After her short reign, she was concerned, not only for her own life, but also for the churches in England. She was fully convinced that God would only do what was right. She was not afraid to lose her life for she knew that she would “lose a mortal life to win an immortal life.” She knew the Scriptures well, which was an example to the church to memorize and know God’s Word more. Jane did not recant her religion nor her faith to try and save her life. Even in the face of death, Jane showed steadfast faith in God for she knew that there was a greater reward in heaven: eternal life with Christ.