Ripon , which relied heavily on its religious institutions , was badly affected by the English Reformation under the Tudor king Henry VIII . The Abbot of Fountains , William Thirske , was expelled by Henry and replaced ; Thirske went on to become one of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace popular rising . The people of Northern England were quite traditional in their beliefs and were unhappy about Henry 's intention to break with Rome ; the Pilgrimage of Grace was the manifestation of this sentiment . The revolt failed and Henry followed through with the break from Rome and the Dissolution of the Monasteries , which included Fountains Abbey
Pilgrimage of Grace
Pilgrimage of Grace
Ripon