The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was composed of the following principal elements:
- 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.
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 .
How did the Elizabethan Revolution affect religion in England?
During Edward's reign, the Church of England adopted a Reformed theology and liturgy. In Mary's reign, these religious policies were reversed, England was re-united with the Catholic Church and Protestantism was suppressed. The Elizabethan Settlement, sometimes called the Revolution of 1559, was an attempt to end this religious turmoil.
How did Queen Elizabeth I restore the Church of England?
Her half-sister, Queen Mary I, had made England a Catholic country again, undoing the work of Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, and half-brother, King Edward VI. The re-establishment of the Church of England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I is known as The Elizabethan Religious Settlement. This restoration was done by two Acts of Parliament: 1.
What are the principal elements of Elizabethan Religious Settlement?
The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was composed of the following principal elements: 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.
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.
Why was Elizabeth's religious settlement a success?
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.
What was the purpose of the Elizabethan settlement?
The Elizabethan Settlement 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.
Was Elizabeth's Religious Settlement a successful compromise?
EXP:Therefore because Elizabeth made large compromises with Catholics, many accepted the new church and so Elizabeth's Religious settlement appeared successful indeed.
What are two features of Elizabeth's Religious Settlement?
1. All members of the Church had to take the oath of supremacy under the Act of Supremacy. 8,000 priests and less important clergy did so. However only one Bishop agreed to take the oath. Elizabeth then appointed 27 new (Protestant) bishops.
What religious changes did Elizabeth make?
1559: Queen Elizabeth wished to create a new moderate religious settlement derived from Henry VIII's break from Rome. She established the Church of England in 1559.
What was the 1559 Elizabethan Religious Settlement?
Article. 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.
What were the challenges to the Religious Settlement?
Many Catholics in England were not happy with Elizabeth's Settlement. They had enjoyed religious freedom under Queen Mary, Elizabeth's sister, and they were now being asked to change or deny their beliefs. Many couldn't make this compromise and left to live in exile abroad.
What religious changes did Elizabeth make?
1559: Queen Elizabeth wished to create a new moderate religious settlement derived from Henry VIII's break from Rome. She established the Church of England in 1559.
How did Elizabeth solve the problem of religion?
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.
How did Elizabeth 1 bring religious peace to England?
Elizabeth I was able to bring religious peace to England because she set up the Anglican Church which allowed both Catholics and Protestants to attend. To please Protestants, they were allowed to marry and they were allowed to preach sermons in English and not Latin.
What was Elizabeth religious policy?
Upon assuming the throne, Queen Elizabeth I restored England to Protestantism. This broke with the policy of her predecessor and half-sister, Queen Mary I, a Catholic monarch who ruthlessly tried to eliminate Protestantism from English society.
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 Queen's first goal?
When the Queen's first Parliament opened in January 1559, its chief goal was the difficult task of reaching a religious settlement. Twenty bishops (all Roman Catholics) sat in the House of Lords as Lords Spiritual, and the Lords in general were opposed to change. In February, the House of Commons passed a Reformation Bill that would restore royal supremacy as well as the 1550 Ordinal and a slightly revised 1552 Prayer Book. It was not popular with the clergy, and the Convocation of Canterbury reacted by affirming papal supremacy, transubstantiation and the Mass as a sacrificial offering.
What was the significance of Mary I's half sister becoming Queen?
The veneration of religious images ( icons, roods, statues) and relics were suppressed, and iconoclasm was sanctioned by the government. Mary I, Elizabeth's half-sister, became queen in 1553. She reversed the religious innovations introduced by her father and brother.
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 ...
How many bishops did Queen Elizabeth need?
Episcopal appointments. To enforce her religious policies, Queen Elizabeth needed bishops willing to cooperate. Seven bishops, including Cardinal Pole, Mary's Archbishop of Canterbury, died in 1558 and needed to be replaced.
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 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.
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 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 purpose of the surviving policy outlines?
This was not, however, the primary focus of the bill initially introduced in the Commons on 9 Feb. 1559 ‘to restore the Supremacy of the Church of England to the Crown of the Realm’. Debated at unusual length on 13 Feb. it dominated proceedings for several days before being committed, although unfortunately no record survives of the arguments either for or against it. Another measure described first as ‘for order of service’ and then as ‘for the book of common prayer’ was twice read before being incorporated into a new supremacy bill introduced on 21 February. Little is know of this bill’s contents but Sir Anthony Cooke, Cecil’s father-in-law, certainly played an important role, for together with Sir Francis Knollys he headed the committee; both men were former religious exiles, and close to the queen’s innermost circle of trusted advisors.
What was the supremacy bill?
Having been passed by the Commons the revised supremacy bill, described by Norman Jones as ‘a complete reform package’ because it included provision for uniformity of worship, was dispatched to the House of Lords and there caused uproar.
What was the primary function of the House of Commons during the Elizabethan period?
Elizabethan Social and Economic Legislation. Social and economic legislation occupied a great deal of time in Elizabethan Parliaments and was considered, after the granting of taxation, to be the primary function of the House of Commons.
What book of common prayer was the order of service based on?
The order of service that it prescribed was largely based on Thomas Cranmer’s 1552 Book of Common Prayer. The only significant change of wording left it open to interpretation whether Christ’s body was really, or only figuratively, present in the communion.
Why did the patent system exist?
The patent system was originally intended to foster economic growth, encourage investment and enterprise, and create employment for the poor; however, patents of monopoly also provided a source of extra-parliamentary revenue to the Crown and were a means of rewarding courtiers who brought new...
Who was Cecil's father in law?
Little is know of this bill’s contents but Sir Anthony Cooke, Cecil’s father-in-law, certainly played an important role, for together with Sir Francis Knollys he headed the committee; both men were former religious exiles, and close to the queen’s innermost circle of trusted advisors.
Who died shortly after Mary?
On the other hand Cardinal Pole, who might have headed a conservative faction against reform, died shortly after Mary. Convocation was further depleted by the death or incapacity of several other prelates before the first Parliament of the new reign assembled in January 1559.
What was the importance of worshipping in the Elizabethan world?
In the Elizabethan world worshipping was a matter of life, death and the afterlife, it was a matter of great urgency that a solution or compromise could be agreed. The issue was one of the first matters dealt with by Elizabeth and her Privy Council.
What was the Act of Uniformity?
The Act of Uniformity stated the way in which churches should be set out and the way in which services should be conducted. Royal Injunctions were given that explained how the Elizabethan Settlement ought to work on a day to day basis.
What was the solution to the Elizabethan Settlement?
The Elizabethan Settlement would need to tackle this issue. The solution was to use elements of both the protestant version and catholic version of the prayer books. This allowed an element of interpretation by the clergy.
Why did Protestants return to England after Mary's death?
Following the death of Mary, many Protestants returned to England in the belief that the country would be Protestant
What was the Church in England's split from Rome?
The Church in England had only broken from Rome a generation earlier. Even then, the split was not a change of theological approach, more a political tool for Henry VIII’s gain. It had allowed reformers, the protestants, to implement some changes though.
Did England have allies in Europe?
England had significant allies in Europe who were staunchly Roman Catholic. Elizabeth in inherited her crown from her sister, Mary I. Mary was Roman Catholic and married to the King of Spain, who had a claim to the English throne. A Settlement would need to take Anglo-Spanish relations into consideration.
Who wrote the monarchy into law?
This prompted debate over the issue. The role of the monarch in this area needed to be addressed. It had been written into law by Henry VIII and used by the administration of Edward VI and again by Mary I to change religious practise. If the monarch were the head of the church, this would place them above all others.
When was the Elizabethan Settlement Implemented?
If you are thinking when was the Elizabethan settlement implemented, then the answer is in the summer of 1559. Thus, the Elizabethan Religious Settlement is also called as Elizabethan Settlement of 1559.
What were the two acts of the Elizabethan settlement?
These two Acts under the Elizabethan Religious settlement included Act of Supremacy of 1559 and the Act of Uniformity of 1559. You can read more on facts on Queen Elizabeth the First.
Why did the Elizabethan Settlement of 1559 have problems?
This is because it was not possible to make each and everyone happy as attempted by Queen Elizabeth. Those loyal to the Catholic Church refused to obey anyone, but only the orders from the Pope himself. They did want to attend the Anglican church services.
How long did Elizabeth I rule England?
This may be because Elizabeth I could reign over England for about 40 years and Mary I had just 5 years to rule. You can go into more details about her reign in the Timeline ...
How many votes did the Act of Uniformity pass?
The act was opposed by many members of the Parliament who were Catholics. However, the act was passed by just 3 votes. The Act of Uniformity revoked the strict laws against Roman Catholics and also removed the abuse of Pope from the litany.
What was the purpose of the Act of Supremacy?
The Act of Supremacy. The Act of Supremacy helped give the reigns of complete control of the Church of England into the hands of Queen Elizabeth. Under the reigns of her father Henry VIII and brother Edward VI, the monarch was always the ‘Head of the Church in England’. However, under the rule of Elizabeth, she was given the title and position ...
What was the fine for not attending the Church?
If one did not attend the Church, they were fine 12 pence. The collected fine was to be donated to the poor and needy. The Holy Communion was written in vague words, such that both the Catholics and Protestants could be a part of the religious meet. The ornaments and vestments of the Church were retained.
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.
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 was the purpose of the Thirty Nine Articles of 1563 CE?
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 were the Royal Injunctions of July 1559 CE?
The Royal Injunctions of July 1559 CE set out a further 57 regulations for the Church of England to follow . Many of these instructions concerned preachers who now had to have a license issued by a bishop and who were obliged to hold at least one service each month or lose that license. Every church had to have a Bible in English available to its congregation, no further altars were to be destroyed, and pilgrimages were banned.
When was Rycote Chapel built?
Rycote Chapel, Oxfordshire, England. The church was first built in the 15th century CE but its interior is typical of those built during the reign of Elizabeth I of England and the plain decoration shows the influence of the English Reformation. / Photo by Peter Reed, Flickr, Creative Commons
What is the interior of Rycote Chapel?
The interior of Rycote Chapel, Oxfordshire, England. The church interior is typical of those built during the reign of Elizabeth I of England and the plain decoration shows the influence of the English Reformation. / Photo by Peter Reed, Flickr, Creative Commons
Subject knowledge
Elizabeth I was Protestant but aimed to solve the divisive religious policies of Edward VI and Mary I.
Persecution and Resistance
Despite the changes, England was, first and foremost, a Protestant country under Elizabeth I.
When was the Elizabethan Settlement Implemented?
If you are thinking when was the Elizabethan settlement implemented, then the answer is in the summer of 1559. Thus, the Elizabethan Religious Settlement is also called an Elizabethan Settlement of 1559.
What was the act of supremacy that included the oath of loyalty to the Queen?
The Act of Supremacy also included the oath of loyalty to the queen. This means all the clergy had to take this oath or lose their office.
Why was the Act of Supremacy important?
The Act of Supremacy passed by the Parliament of England is significant because it declared the English monarch as the head of the church. It replaced the pope as the highest authority over the church of England.
What was the most important part of the Elizabethan Settlement of Religion?
The Act of Uniformity was the most important part of the Elizabethan Settlement of Religion. It helped in establishing set rules for worship. All the prayer books of Edward VI were integrated into one book. This prayer book was to be used by every church under the rule of Elizabeth.
How many votes did the Act of Uniformity pass?
The act was opposed by many members of the Parliament who were Catholics. However, the act was passed by just 3 votes. The Act of Uniformity revoked the strict laws against Roman Catholics and also removed the abuse of Pope from the litany.
What was the Act of Supremacy 1532?
This was later known as “The Act of Supremacy 1532” which was then legalized in 1534. The further reformation gave more control and powers to Henry over and above the church.
What act of 1533 stated that people could not question on the rule of Henry?
The Act of Restraints of Appeals. In 1533 this act was passed which stated that people could not question on the rule of Henry that was made above decisions and laws by public and church office and the realm of England is an Empire in itself. So the pope has no right to interfere in its matter.
Overview
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). Implemented between 1559 and 1563, the settlement is considered the end of the English Reformation, permanently shaping the theology and liturgy of the Church of England and laying the foundations of Angl…
Background
Elizabeth I inherited a kingdom bitterly divided over matters of religion. This division began during the reign of her father, Henry VIII. After his wife, Catherine of Aragon, failed to produce a male heir, Henry applied to the pope for an annulment of his marriage. When his request was denied, Henry separated the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church and claimed that he, rather …
Elizabeth's accession
Elizabeth's religious views were Protestant, though "peculiarly conservative". She also kept many of her religious views private, which can make it difficult to determine what she believed. She disliked married clergy, held Lutheran views on Eucharistic presence, and there is evidence she preferred the more ceremonial 1549 prayer book. At certain times, the Queen made her religious preferences clear, such as on Christmas Day 1558, when before Mass she instructed Bishop Ow…
Legislation
When the Queen's first Parliament opened in January 1559, its chief goal was the difficult task of reaching a religious settlement. Twenty bishops (all Roman Catholics) sat in the House of Lords as Lords Spiritual, and the Lords in general were opposed to change. In February, the House of Commons passed a Reformation Bill that would restore royal supremacy as well as the 1550 Ordinal and …
Implementation
To enforce her religious policies, Queen Elizabeth needed bishops willing to cooperate. Seven bishops, including Cardinal Pole, Mary's Archbishop of Canterbury, died in 1558 and needed to be replaced. The remaining bishops were all Catholics appointed during Mary's reign, and Elizabeth's advisers hoped they could be persuaded to continue serving. Ultimately, all but two bishops (t…
Thirty-nine Articles and the Homilies
The Elizabethan settlement was further consolidated by the adoption of a moderately Protestant doctrinal statement called the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion. While affirming traditional Christian teaching as defined by the first four ecumenical councils, it tried to steer a middle way between Reformed and Lutheran doctrines while rejecting Anabaptist thinking. The Thirty-nine Articles were not intended as a complete statement of the Christian faith but of the position of the Church of …
Reception
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. "For a while, it was possible to sustain an attenuated Catholicism within the parish framewor…
Aftermath
In 1603, the King of Scotland inherited the English crown as James I. The Church of Scotland was even more strongly Reformed, having a presbyterian polity and John Knox's liturgy, the Book of Common Order. James was himself a moderate Calvinist, and the Puritans hoped the King would move the English Church in the Scottish direction. James, however, did the opposite, forcing the Scottish Chur…