When Christianity arrived for the general masses in the late 1500's and Early 1600's, the puritan purge made life hell for a lot of people.

As the civil war raged on, people took advantage and one of those people was Matthew Hopkins. He setn hundreds of people, mainly women to their deaths but before him, how did witchcraft become such a hotbed of political tension and how did religion stick it's beak into the ways people had been living for years but now paired it with the devil - a christian invention...

In this episode of Macabre London, we uncover the roots of witchcraft accusations in England — from folk magic and protective charms to demonisation, law, religion, and the rise of the “witch” as a feared figure in the public imagination. We look at the key players who helped shape witch panic, including Henry VIII, James VI and I, Malleus Maleficarum, and Matthew Hopkins, and trace how fear turned into prosecution. If you’re into witches, medieval history, the early modern period, dark history, history documentaries, religion and belief, folklore, esotericism, and all things eerie and uncanny, this episode is for you.

So if you're interested in magick, the occult, historical beliefs, witchcraft and just how the religion we know today was developed and forged in the old fires, with the occasional human sacrifice thrown in, then make sure you join me, this is just the beginning!

This series is sponsored by Snag - Clothing for Every Body! Make sure you check them out www.snagtights.com

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If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode! Also available wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/macabrelondon

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Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

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SUPPORT

————————

Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons -

Sam, Sarah, Veronica, Mary, Christina, Sally, Christophe, Ravelle, Jemma, Terri and Matilda.

And to all of our wonderful upper tier patrons... Andrew, Denise, Bethan, Ashley, David, Kathryn, Andrea, Claire, Amy, Wendy, Inge, Liz, Kelly, Boudicca, Jana, Laura, Christina,

And thanks to all other patrons too!

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SOCIAL MEDIA

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Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

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witchcraft history, witches, witch trials, witch hunts, English witch trials, early modern England, medieval history, Tudor history, Stuart history, history of witchcraft, history of religion and belief, demonology, folk magic, occult history, esotericism, dark history, spooky history, supernatural history, history documentary, historical documentary, Macabre London, true crime history, historical true crime, women in history, women accused of witchcraft, religious history, early modern period, British history, London history, English history, crime and punishment history, belief systems history, paranormal history, folklore history, creepy history, mysterious history, forbidden history, grim history, horror history, strange history, pagan history, Henry VIII witchcraft, James VI and I witchcraft, Daemonologie, Malleus Maleficarum, Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder General, witch marks, apotropaic marks, witch accusations, devil worship history, witch panic, witchcraft law, 16th century witchcraft, 17th century witch trials, English folklore, occult beliefs, superstition history, witchcraft and religion, early modern beliefs, haunted history

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered about the origins of May Day and why we get a day off on the bank holiday? Well, you can thank your randy ancestors who were all about getting drunk and hooking up on the first of May.

As the cold of winter thawed, people emerged from their homes and were looking for other humans to socialise with. Over time, this turned into a celebration which spanned most of Europe. Beltane is a celtic fire festival which turned into May Day and it's been celebrated in London for centuries in many different incarnations. Learn all about the maypole and why it upset Christians and how it used to be ok to knock off with people without judgement,

How tall was London's largest Maypole, what happened to it and how did these celebrations mutate into a huge 40ft Wicker Man fire festival a short way outside London in Hampshire...all that and more on today's episode.

Thanks to Butser Ancient Farm for the press invite to the Beltane festival - be sure to check them out here: https://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/

So if you're interested in magick, the occult, historical beliefs, witchcraft and just how the religion we know today was developed and forged in the old fires, with the occasional human sacrifice thrown in, then make sure you join me, this is just the beginning!

This series is sponsored by Snag - Clothing for Every Body! Make sure you check them out www.snagtights.com

------------------------

If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode! Also available wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/macabrelondon

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT

————————

Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons -

Sam, Sarah, Veronica, Mary, Christina, Sally, Christophe, Ravelle, Jemma, Terri and Matilda.

And to all of our wonderful upper tier patrons... Andrew, Denise, Bethan, Ashley, David, Kathryn, Andrea, Claire, Amy, Wendy, Inge, Liz, Kelly, Boudicca, Jana, Laura, Christina,

And thanks to all other patrons too!

————————

SOCIAL MEDIA

---------------------------------------------

Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------

london history, medieval london, london churches, british history, uk history, church history, medieval church, christian history, religious history, devil in churches, devil art, medieval devil, doom paintings, doom painting meaning, medieval wall paintings, church wall paintings, medieval art, religious art history, hell in medieval art, depiction of hell, last judgement paintings, last judgement medieval, fear in religion, church fear tactics, religion and control, psychology of religion, history documentary, dark history, macabre history, occult history, eerie history, haunted history london, london mysteries, hidden london, secret london history, strange history, historical mysteries, true history stories, educational documentary, youtube documentary history, medieval beliefs, fear of hell medieval, sin and punishment medieval, religious symbolism, gothic art, early christian art, church propaganda history, art and fear, storytelling history, historical storytelling, british churches documentary, wicker man, wickerman, wicker man burning, folk festival uk, weird walk, stone club, folk revival UK, folk customs UK

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Churches Used the Devil to Control London - Doom Paintings Throughout History

Did London's churches use the devil to terrify it's congregation? Well...yes!

Today's episode of Macabre London: Belief and the Occult in the Capital City, we go on a field trip to a completely preserved church which somehow still has ALL of it's stained glass from the early 1500's complete with dozens of brightly coloured demons! We learn about how the devil came to be feared and how he also turns up centiries later on top of a church in a dispute over land in perhaps the pettiest piece of architecture known to man....and the devil.

We learn about how doom paintings shaped peoples beliefs and how London's churches would've looked very different. We also take a look at the Flagellants with the help of Dr Eleanor Janega.

Come on a journey with me as we go and have a look at the resplendent stained glass of St Mary's Church in Fairford in the Cotswolds to see what London's churches would've looked like before the puritan purge destroyed them.

Thanks to Dr Eleanor Janega for her help with this episode - https://dreleanorjanega.com

So if you're interested in magick, the occult, historical beliefs, witchcraft and just how the religion we know today was developed and forged in the old fires, with the occasional human sacrifice thrown in, then make sure you join me, this is just the beginning!

This series is sponsored by Snag - Clothing for Every Body! Make sure you check them out www.snagtights.com

------------------------

If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode! Also available wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/macabrelondon

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT

————————

Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons -

Sam, Sarah, Veronica, Mary, Christina, Sally, Christophe, Ravelle, Jemma, Terri and Matilda.

And to all of our wonderful upper tier patrons... Andrew, Denise, Bethan, Ashley, David, Kathryn, Andrea, Claire, Amy, Wendy, Inge, Liz, Kelly, Boudicca, Jana, Laura, Christina,

And thanks to all other patrons too!

————————

SOCIAL MEDIA

---------------------------------------------

Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------

london history, medieval london, london churches, british history, uk history, church history, medieval church, christian history, religious history, devil in churches, devil art, medieval devil, doom paintings, doom painting meaning, medieval wall paintings, church wall paintings, medieval art, religious art history, hell in medieval art, depiction of hell, last judgement paintings, last judgement medieval, fear in religion, church fear tactics, religion and control, psychology of religion, history documentary, dark history, macabre history, occult history, eerie history, haunted history london, london mysteries, hidden london, secret london history, strange history, historical mysteries, true history stories, educational documentary, youtube documentary history, medieval beliefs, fear of hell medieval, sin and punishment medieval, religious symbolism, gothic art, early christian art, church propaganda history, art and fear, storytelling history, historical storytelling, british churches documentary

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.