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.
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 .
Was the Elizabethan Religious Settlement more Protestant or Catholic?
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 did the Elizabeth I Act affect the Catholic Church in England?
This resulted in two acts: This Act made Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and ensured that the Roman Catholic Church had no say over the workings and beliefs of the Church of England.
How did the Elizabethan Church find itself in conflict?
conflict the Elizabethan Church found itself in between the two religions.29 John Guy states that in the Elizabethan Church Settlement Elizabeth had no control. All she wanted to enforce was “Anglicanism,” which Guy defines as adherence 25Patrick Collinson,“The Elizabethan Church and the New Religion,”in The Reign of Elizabeth I,ed.
What did the Elizabethan religious settlement do?
The Religious Settlement was an attempt by Elizabeth I to unite the country after the changes in religion under Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I. It was designed to settle the divide between Catholics and Protestants and address the differences in services and beliefs.
Was the Elizabethan 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.
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 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.
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.
When was the Elizabethan Religious Settlement passed?
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.
When was the Elizabethan settlement?
The religious settlement began to be implemented in the summer of 1559.
How did the Elizabethan settlement from the English church?
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.
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.
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.
Was religion important in the Elizabethan era?
Religion in Elizabethan England. The two major religions in Elizabethan England were the Catholic and Protestant religions. The convictions and beliefs in these different religions were so strong that they led to the executions of many adherents to both of these Elizabethan religions.
How did the Elizabethan settlement from the English church?
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.
Who challenged the Religious Settlement?
The Catholic challenge to the Settlement was in part fuelled by the position of Mary, Queen of Scots. With a legitimate Catholic heir to the throne they had reason to believe that Catholicism would return and some were inclined to plot or continue Catholic ways based on this.
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 Act of Uniformity?
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. The bill was hotly debated but eventually passed by three votes.
What was the purpose of the revised Act of Supremacy?
The revised Act of Supremacy still abolished papal supremacy, but defined Elizabeth as Supreme Governor, rather than Supreme Head, of the church. This change of title placated those who did not feel that a woman could be the head of the church, and the act passed fairly easily.
What is the Armada portrait?
Recently saved for the nation, the Armada Portrait commemorates the most famous conflict of Elizabeth I's reign – the failed invasion of England by the Spanish Armada in summer 1588. This iconic portrait is now back on public display in the Queen's House after careful conservation.
What would happen if England returned to Protestantism?
Returning to Protestantism would align England with the Dutch, its main trading partner, but risked antagonising Spain, the most powerful nation in the world. Protestantism would also create a fear of persecution among England’s Catholics.
What was the debate during Easter recess?
A debate was scheduled during the Easter recess between a team of Catholics and a team of Protestants, with the Privy Council as judge and Bacon as Chairman.
What did Queen Elizabeth I inherit?
Queen Elizabeth I inherited a nation suffering from religious flux, but went on to build a stable, peaceful nation. 1534: The Reformation of Henry VIII made England’s monarch the spiritual and secular head of the realm.
When was the Elizabethan 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 was the purpose of the Religious Settlement?
It was designed to settle the divide between Catholics and Protestants and address the differences in services and beliefs.
Why was the Religious Settlement challenged?
However, it was an attempt to solve the religious division that existed within England at the time and was never going to please everyone.
How did Mary I reintroduce Catholicism?
Under her reign, Mary I had reintroduced Catholicism in England. She did this by overturning the Supremacy Acts that Henry VIII had created. When Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558 she worked with the Privy Council to create a religious settlement that would unite the country into one Church. This meant starting with the Supremacy Acts created ...
What was the Act of Supremacy?
This Act made Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and ensured that the Roman Catholic Church had no say over the workings and beliefs of the Church of England.
What was the Act of Uniformity 1559?
This Act reintroduced the Book of Common Prayer and set out what the English Church service should look like as well as setting out how the inside of churches should look. The Act also detailed what priests should wear too.
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.
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 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.
Did the settlement of religion have to be enacted by Parliament?
There seems to have been no question that the settlement of religion had to be enacted by Parliament, under the guidance of the new queen and her counsellors. One difficulty for Protestant reformers, however, was that the House of Lords, including the bishops, was staunchly Roman Catholic.
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 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
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.
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 is the sieve portrait?
1588-1603 CE). It is known as the Sieve Portrait because the queen holds a large sieve in her left hand – symbol of chastity. (Pinacoteca Nazionale, Sienna, Italy) / Wikimedia Commons
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.
What were the two main features of the Act of Uniformity?
Two other important features of the Act of Uniformity were, first, church attendance was made compulsory. Failure to attend service resulted in a small fine (which was then given to the poor). The fine was one shilling, then about one day’s labour for a skilled worker, but few were collected in practice. Secondly, attendance of a Catholic mass was forbidden, those found guilty of this offence received a large fine. A priest found guilty of performing a mass could face the death penalty.
What was the Elizabethan religious settlement?
The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was Elizabeth I ’s response to the religious divisions created over the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I. This response, described as "The Revolution of 1559", was set out in two Acts of the Parliament of England. The Act of Supremacy of 1559 re-established the Church of England ’s independence from Rome, with Parliament conferring on Elizabeth the title Supreme Governor of the Church of England, while the Act of Uniformity of 1559 set out the form the English church would now take, including establishing the Book of Common Prayer .
Which Queen of England reached a moderate religious settlement which became controversial after her death?
Queen Elizabeth I of England reached a moderate religious settlement which became controversial after her death.
What was the cause of the English Civil War?
The war was only partly about religion, but the abolition of prayer book and episcopacy by a Puritan Parli ament was an element in the causes of the conflict. As Diarmaid MacCulloch has noted, the legacy of these tumultuous events can be recognised, throughout the Commonwealth (1649-1660) and the Restoration which followed it and beyond. Anglicans were to become the core of the restored Church of England, but at the price for further division. At the Restoration in 1660 Anglicans were to be but part of the religious scene, which was to include various kinds of non-conformity.
What was the Queen's reaction to the restoration of roods?
On the question of images, her initial reaction was to allow crucifixes and candlesticks and the restoration of roods, but some of the new bishops whom she had elevated protested. In 1560 Edmund Grindal, one of the Marian exiles now made Bishop of London, was allowed to enforce the demolition of rood lofts in London and in 1561 the Queen herself ordered the demolition of all lofts. Thereafter, the determination to prevent any further restoration was evidenced by the more thoroughgoing destruction of roods, vestments, stone altars, dooms, statues and other ornaments. The queen also appointed a new Privy Council, removing many Roman Catholic counsellors by doing so. Under Elizabeth, factionalism in the Council and conflicts at court greatly diminished. The Act of Supremacy had passed without difficulty.
What was the significance of the Act of Supremacy?
The Act of Supremacy validated ten Acts that Mary had repealed and confirmed Elizabeth as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Use of the term Supreme Governor as opposed to Supreme Head pacified many who were concerned about a female leader of the Church of England. Elizabeth's changes were more wholesale than those of her half-brother, Edward VI. All but one of the bishops lost their posts, a hundred fellows of Oxford colleges were deprived; many dignitaries resigned rather than take the oath. The bishops who were removed from the ecclesiastical bench were replaced by appointees who would agree to the reforms.
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…
Elizabeth I's Religious Settlement
- Queen Elizabeth I inherited a nation suffering from religious flux, but went on to build a stable, peaceful nation. 1. 1534: The Reformation of Henry VIII made England’s monarch the spiritual and secular head of the realm. 2. 1547: Protestantism is continued under Edward VI. 3. 1553: Queen Mary I reversed this decision when she restored Roman Catho...
Queen Elizabeth I and Religion
- Queen Elizabeth I wanted to build a stable, peaceful nation with a strong government, free from the influence of foreign powers in matters of the church and the state. To realise this vision it was necessary to reach a new religious settlement that was as inclusive as possible. Changes needed to be introduced with a minimum of confrontation in order to overcome fear and suspicion at ho…
Building A United and Prosperous England
- Elizabeth's first Parliament was inaugurated on 25 January 1559. Queen Elizabeth was in attendance for the opening speech which was delivered by Nicholas Bacon, the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. As spokesman for the government, Bacon delivered its mission statement, ‘to unite the people of this realm into a uniform order of religion'. Bacon outlined the course to reach this goa…
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. The proposed settlement was roundly rejected and adulterated by the House of Lords, with its Catholic majority. Elizabeth and her pro-reform ministers had to r…
What Was The Act of Supremacy?
- When Parliament reconvened in April, the two issues were presented separately and considerable concessions were made. The revised Act of Supremacy still abolished papal supremacy, but defined Elizabeth as Supreme Governor, rather than Supreme Head, of the church. This change of title placated those who did not feel that a woman could be the head of the church, and the act p…
What Was The Act of Uniformity?
- 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. The bill was hotly debated but eventually passed by three votes.
Using Our Collections For Research
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