What is Elizabethan Religious Settlement?
Elizabethan Religious Settlement is the name given to the religious and political arrangements made for England during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603) that brought the English Reformation to a conclusion.
What was the purpose of the religious settlement?
The Religious Settlement was an effort by Elizabeth I to unite the country. It was intended to resolve the dispute between Catholics and Protestants. As a Protestant, Elizabeth had to tread carefully between both faiths to maintain unity.
How did the settlement of 1559 affect the Catholic Church?
The settlement of 1559 had given Protestants control of the Church of England, but matters were different at the parish level, where Catholic priests and traditional laity held large majorities. The bishops struggled for decades to impose the Prayer Book and Injunctions on reluctant parishes.
How did the persecution of 1581–1592 change the nature of Catholicism?
Afterwards, executions of Catholic priests became more common, and in 1585, it became treason for a Catholic priest to enter the country, as well as for anyone to aid or shelter him. The persecution of 1581–1592 changed the nature of Roman Catholicism in England. The seminary priests were dependent on the gentry families of southern England.
What was the Religious Settlement called?
The Elizabethan Religious Settlement is the name given to the religious and political arrangements made for England during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603).
When was the Religious Settlement?
Debating the Elizabethan religious settlement The first act passed by the House of Commons in February 1559 joined together a bill of supremacy, establishing Queen Elizabeth I as head of the church, with one of uniformity, dealing with the type of faith and service.
What did the Religious Settlement do?
The Religious Settlement aimed to ease the tensions created by the religious divisions of the previous 25 years. It tried to take elements from both Protestantism and Catholicism, but since many Protestants had become MPs, the Settlement was perhaps more Protestant than Elizabeth would have liked.
How was the Religious Settlement enforced?
The Church was responsible for helping to enforce the religious settlement. Visitations were inspections of churches and clergy by bishops to ensure that everyone took the oath of supremacy and were following the terms of the religious settlement.
Why was the Religious Settlement successful?
All members of the Church had to take the oath of supremacy under the Act of Supremacy if they were to keep their posts. 8,000 priests and less important clergy did so. There were 10,000 parishes in England at this time so this shows that the religious settlement was largely successful.
Why did the Puritans challenge the Religious Settlement?
The Religious Settlement did not enforce the Puritan view of church layout, decorations or the dress of preachers. The main areas that puritans disagreed with were the allowance of crucifixes and vestments. The crucifix shows Jesus dying on the cross. For many it is an important religious symbol.
Why was the Religious Settlement a problem for Elizabeth?
The Act of Supremacy This made Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of the Church. The term 'Supreme Head' was avoided because Christ was seen as Head of the Church. There was a strict prohibition of foreign leadership in the English church, so denying Elizabeth's position in the Church was considered treason.
When was the Catholic Church banned in England?
The Catholic Mass became illegal in England in 1559, under Queen Elizabeth I's Act of Uniformity. Thereafter Catholic observance became a furtive and dangerous affair, with heavy penalties levied on those, known as recusants, who refused to attend Anglican church services.
What were the basic components of the Catholic Reformation?
What were the basic components of the Catholic Reformations? Reform of Church pracitices, strengthening the Inquistion, and founding new religious orders to bolster Catholicism.
What helped Elizabeth enforce the Religious Settlement?
The Act of Supremacy The queen's reassertion of control over religious matters was achieved via the April 1559 CE Act of Supremacy, once more closing the door on the Pope. Elizabeth had taken the decision to arrest any Catholic bishops that did not accept her authority as sovereign over them.
Is England Catholic or Protestant?
The official religion of the United Kingdom is Christianity, with the Church of England being the state church of its largest constituent region, England. The Church of England is neither fully Reformed (Protestant) nor fully Catholic. The Monarch of the United Kingdom is the Supreme Governor of the Church.
How did the Catholic church respond to the Reformation?
The Roman Catholic Church responded to the Protestant challenge by purging itself of the abuses and ambiguities that had opened the way to revolt and then embarked upon recovery of the schismatic branches of Western Christianity with mixed success.
What religion was the first settlers?
The earliest colonies of New England were founded between 1620-1638 by separatists and Puritans seeking to establish religious communities in which they could worship freely.
What was the main religion in America in the 1800s?
At the start of the Revolution the largest denominations were Congregationalists (the 18th-century descendants of Puritan churches), Anglicans (known after the Revolution as Episcopalians), and Quakers. But by 1800, Evangelical Methodism and Baptists, were becoming the fasting-growing religions in the nation.
What religion was the first settlers in the United States?
Because the Spanish were the first Europeans to establish settlements on the mainland of North America, such as St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565, the earliest Christians in the territory which would eventually become the United States were Roman Catholics.
What was the main religion in the 13 colonies?
This infographic concerns the religious beliefs of European-descended residents of the 13 Colonies. The dominant religion among the colonists was Christianity with the leading denomination varying from colony to colony.
What was the purpose of the Religious Settlement?
The Religious Settlement was an effort by Elizabeth I to unite the country. It was intended to resolve the dispute between Catholics and Protestants. As a Protestant, Elizabeth had to tread carefully between both faiths to maintain unity.
Why were the Puritans unhappy with the settlement?
Puritans were unhappy with the settlement as they believed that Elizabeth should have legislated for a truly radical Puritan church.
What religion did England follow?
England became a more secular society. Protestantism was the official religion of England, but Catholicism was also accepted, instead of its followers being persecuted.
Was England a Catholic country?
England had been a Catholic nation under the rule of the previous monarch, Mary I. Catholics were not happy with the Religious Settlement.
What was the Elizabethan religious settlement?
The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was a collection of laws and decisions concerning religious practices introduced between 1558-63 CE by Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603 CE). The settlement continued the English Reformation which had begun during the reign of her father, Henry VIII of England (r. 1509-1547 CE) whereby the Protestant Church of England split from the Catholic Church led by the Pope in Rome. There was opposition to the moderate features of the Settlement from both radical Catholics and radical Protestants. In addition, the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth for heresy in 1570 CE. Nevertheless, many of the features of the Settlement such as replacing altars with communion tables, using English in services, and banning traditional mass services, remained in place over the following centuries and their effects can still be seen on today's Anglican Church.
Which of England's three closest neighbours were Catholic?
The north of England remained conservative in religious matters and England's three closest neighbours ( Scotland, France, and Spain) were all Catholic states. Consequently, Elizabeth's reforms would have to be introduced with care. Elizabeth I Sieve Portrait. Quentin Metsys the Younger (Public Domain)
What were the thirty nine articles of 1563?
The Thirty-nine Articles of 1563 CE (made law in 1571 CE) were the final part of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. Essentially, they covered all the matters not yet set out in previous legislation and aimed to definitively establish what was meant by the English version of Protestantism, otherwise known as Anglicism. This was by no means a simple task as, in these early stages, nobody quite knew what Anglicism precisely was except that it was not Catholicism or extreme Protestantism but somewhere in-between. Article 34, for example, stated the following:
What was the Act of Supremacy?
The Act of Supremacy - established Elizabeth as head of the Church of England. The Act of Uniformity - set out the appearance of churches and services, banned mass services. The Royal Injunctions - 57 regulations on Church matters, e.g.: preachers required a license and pilgrimages were banned.
How did the Queen reassert her authority over the Church?
The queen's reassertion of control over religious matters was achieved via the April 1559 CE Act of Supremacy, once more closing the door on the Pope. Elizabeth had taken the decision to arrest any Catholic bishops that did not accept her authority as sovereign over them. Two bishops were sent to the Tower of London as a consequence. This pressure meant that the Act was passed by Parliament but only by the slightest of majorities. The queen had compromised a little on the wording of the Supremacy Act, calling herself the 'Supreme Governor' of the Church instead of the 'Supreme Head', thus making her more acceptable to Protestants who disliked the idea of a woman in that position. The queen was determined to see the act enforced and sent inspectors around the parishes for that purpose. Anyone suspected of not recognising Elizabeth as head of the Church would now find themselves before a new court, the Court of High Commission. Unlike in other Protestant states, the old Catholic structure of the Church below the sovereign was maintained with the bishops organised in a hierarchy. The Archbishop of Canterbury remained at the top, the Archbishop of York was number two, and the monarch appointed the bishops and archbishops. It was a good start but finding the balance between radicals on either side of the religious debate was going to be more difficult than mere wordplay.
What resulted from Elizabeth's cautious reforms?
Elizabeth's cautious reforms resulted in 'a Church that was Protestant in doctrine, Catholic in appearance'.
What is the Book of Common Prayer?
The Book of Common Prayer - a new moderate blend of earlier prayer books to be used in church services.
What was the purpose of the Religious Settlement?
The Religious Settlement. The Religious Settlement aimed to ease the tensions created by the religious divisions of the previous 25 years. It tried to take elements from both Protestantism and Catholicism, but since many Protestants had become MPs, the Settlement was perhaps more Protestant than Elizabeth would have liked.
What were the acts of the Elizabethan religious settlement?
The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was contained in two acts – the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity.
How did religion become a very divisive factor in people’s lives in Wales and England?
Religion became a very divisive factor in people’s lives in Wales and England when Protestant ideas challenged the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church. Elizabeth offered a ‘middle way’ compromise. How successfully did Elizabeth deal with the problem of religion?
What was the prayer book based on?
It said that the newly formed Prayer Book, based on that of Edward’s reign should be used in all churches and that people would be fined one shilling if they did not attend. People who refused to attend Church services were called recusants.
What was the name of the religious settlement that led to the Reformation?
Part of England's switch to Protestantism. Queen Elizabeth I. The Elizabethan Religious Settlement is the name given to the religious and political arrangements made for England during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603) that brought the English Reformation to a conclusion. The Settlement shaped the theology and liturgy of the Church ...
What was the name of the religion that was forced out of the Church of England after the Restoration?
After the Restoration in 1660, the Settlement was restored, and the Puritans were forced out of the Church of England. Anglicanism became defined by the via media or middle way between the religious extremes of Catholicism and Protestantism; Arminianism and Calvinism; and high church and low church .
What was the dominant theology within the Church of England?
Throughout the reigns of Elizabeth and James I, Calvinism was the predominant theology within the Church of England. The Settlement failed to end religious disputes. While most of the population gradually conformed to the established church, a minority of recusants remained loyal Roman Catholics.
What were the thirty nine articles of religion?
The Thirty-nine Articles were not intended as a complete statement of the Christian faith but of the position of the Church of England in relation to the Catholic Church and dissident Protestants. In 1571, Convocation finalised the Thirty-nine Articles. It was given statutory force by the Subscription Act, which required all new ministers to affirm their agreement with this confessional statement.
What was the Elizabethan settlement?
The Elizabethan Settlement, sometimes called the Revolution of 1559, was an attempt to end this religious turmoil. The Act of Supremacy of 1558 re-established the Church of England's independence from Rome, and Parliament conferred on Elizabeth the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The Act of Uniformity of 1559 re-introduced the ...
When did the royal visitation begin?
In the summer of 1559, the government conducted a royal visitation of the dioceses. The visitation was conducted according to injunctions based on the Royal Injunctions of 1547. These new royal injunctions were meant to fill in the details of the settlement and were to be enforced nationwide by six groups of clerical and lay commissioners. All of the leading clergymen were Protestants and former exiles ( Robert Horne, Thomas Becon, Thomas Bentham, John Jewel, Edwin Sandys, and Richard Davies ), and they interpreted the injunctions in the most Protestant way possible.
Who was the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1577?
Through the 1580s, Puritans were organised enough to conduct what were essentially covert national synods. John Whitgift was Archbishop of Canterbury and a defender of the Elizabethan Settlement. In 1577, Whitgift was made Bishop of Worcester and six years later Archbishop of Canterbury.
