The Elizabethan Settlement was an attempt to end this religious turmoil. The Act of Supremacy
Act of Supremacy 1558
The Act of Supremacy 1558, sometimes referred to as the Act of Supremacy 1559, is an act of the Parliament of England, passed under the auspices of Elizabeth I. It replaced the original Act of Supremacy 1534 issued by Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, which arrogated ecclesiastical authority to the monarchy, and which had been repealed by Mary I. Along with the Act of Uniformity 1558 it made up what is g…
Full Answer
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 .
What was the Elizabethan Settlement Act of Uniformity?
Another part of “The Elizabethan Settlement” was the Act of uniformity. The Act of Uniformity required all to attend church on Sundays and holy days, and mandated that church services would follow the second, more protestant, book of common prayer.
What did Elizabeth do to restore the Church of England?
Years later, Elizabeth came the queen of England. One of the first things she did was restore the Protestant Church of England. This was known as “The Elizabethan Settlement". The Act of supremacy was part of the Elizabethan Settlement. It made Queen Elizabeth the supreme governor of the church rather than supreme head.
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 were the main features of the Elizabethan Church Settlement?
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. The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was contained in two acts – the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity.
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.
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.
Why was the Elizabethan Settlement important?
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.
What are 2 features of Elizabethan society?
7 Feature 1: One key feature of Elizabethan society was the divisions in power and wealth between social classes in the countryside. For example, the landowning nobility were the most wealthy and powerful, followed by the gentry, the yeoman and the tenant farmers, and then the landless labourers.
What changes did Elizabeth make to religion?
The Act of Uniformity of 1559 set out the groundwork for the Elizabethan church. It restored the 1552 version of the English Prayer Book but kept many of the familiar old practices and allowed for two interpretations of communion, one Catholic and one Protestant.
Did Elizabeth I allow Catholics?
Her formula was simple – if the Catholics were loyal to the Queen and discreet in their worship, she would tolerate them. However, Bishops had been instructed to remove all forms of Catholic practices as witnessed in services by clergy.
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.
How successful was Elizabeth religious settlement?
EXP:Therefore because Elizabeth made large compromises with Catholics, many accepted the new church and so Elizabeth's Religious settlement appeared successful indeed. However Elizabeth's religious settlement was not successful in the eyes of the Puritans who challenged her actions.
What was the religious impact of the Reformation in Europe?
The Reformation became the basis for the founding of Protestantism, one of the three major branches of Christianity. The Reformation led to the reformulation of certain basic tenets of Christian belief and resulted in the division of Western Christendom between Roman Catholicism and the new Protestant traditions.
What was the religious persecution in England?
During the 1660s and 1670s a series of penal laws were enacted which persecuted both Catholics and members of the various nonconformist groups. Enforcement of these laws unleashed a period of violent religious disturbance and hatred across England, Scotland and Wales.
What are some examples of religious persecution?
Examples of persecution include the confiscation or destruction of property, incitement of hatred, arrests, imprisonment, beatings, torture, murder, and executions. Religious persecution can be considered the opposite of freedom of religion.
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.
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 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.
What was the continuity of the Church of England in apostolic succession?
The continuity of the Church of England in apostolic succession was strongly upheld under Elizabeth. The consecration of Matthew Parker (1504-1575) as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1559 was done with great care to make sure that the line of English bishops in apostolic succession was unbroken. Although Elizabeth would have preferred a celibate clergy, clerical marriage was permitted as an indulgence. The Elizabethan settlement was foundational for the via media that has become characteristic of Anglicanism. Through this settlement the English church was comprehensive and inclusive, catholic and protestant, but neither Roman Catholic nor Genevan Protestant. See Receptionism; see Via Media.
What was the purpose of the Elizabethan settlement?
The Elizabethan settlement sought to be an inclusive middle course between divergent religious positions in English Christianity. Much of traditional Catholic faith and practice was retained, but without submission to papal authority. Much latitude for individual conscience was allowed, but uniformity of worship was required. Faithful Christians with differing theological convictions could find a home in a comprehensive English church.
What was the Act of Supremacy of 1559?
The Act of Supremacy of 1559 proclaimed Elizabeth to be the "supreme governor of this realm" in all spiritual , ecclesiastical , and temporal matters . Elizabeth's assertion of power over the English church was not as sweeping as that of Henry VIII, who was proclaimed the only supreme head on earth of the English church. The Act of Supremacy of 1559 included an oath of obedience to the Crown that was imposed on all clergy and public officials. Elizabeth exercised royal power concerning the church within the provisions of religious legislation, and she protected the church from attempts by Parliament to meddle.
Why is Queen Elizabeth important?
England was able to escape endless religious wars that tore apart France and many other European states during the 1500s. Her compromises satisfied most Catholics and Protestants and ended decades of religious turmoil. This event in history proves that Queen Elizabeth had good leadership skills because she was able to make peace among the rivaling people of different religions. Queen Elizabeth left a legacy because this event was named the "Elizabethan Settlement". The settlement also became the foundation for Anglican churches around the world, including episcopal churches in the United States and many African churches. Queen Elizabeth also provided stability to England during the protestant reformation. This proves that she is a model leader because it is very hard to manage a nation during such a rough time in history. The ability to keep calm and think clearly during a strenuous time was a skill that Queen Elizabeth had, and utilized, in order to be not just a great leader, but a leader that was able to impact history and leave a lasting legacy to this day.
What was the Protestant Reformation?
During this time, protestant reformers such as John Calvin and Martin Luther began questioning the practices of the Catholic church. The catholic church had been charging large fees for services such as marriages and other rituals. The church also sold indulgences to people. An indulgence is a paper that forgave a man or woman’s sins and assured they would go to heaven. Protestants such as Luther and Calvin strongly opposed these actions by the church and initiated the protestant reformation.
What was Queen Elizabeth's role in the Protestant Church?
Years later, Elizabeth came the queen of England. One of the first things she did was restore the Protestant Church of England. This was known as “The Elizabethan Settlement".
What was the Elizabethan settlement?
The Act of Uniformity required all to attend church on Sundays and holy days, and mandated that church services would follow the second, more protestant, book of common prayer. While maintaining many Catholic traditions, she made England a firmly Protestant nation.
Why did Queen Elizabeth make her head the supreme head of the church?
The reason for this decision was because if she was the supreme head, it would anger the Catholics who did not accept the monarch as “Head of the Church.”
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.
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…