#36b Religious Settlement Acts

Act of Supremacy(59), Act of Uniformity(59), Org. of Church, Royal Injunctions of 1559, 1559 Prayer Book, 39 Articles of 1563

What were the components of Eliz.’s settlement?

Act of Supremacy, 1559

Re-established English monarch as head of the church, required all churchmen to swear out of loyalty and the Court of High Commission was set up

satisfy those who believed Pope to be rightful head of church and who did not like a woman ruler

Why did Eliz. choose the less controversial title of “Supreme Governor?”

Court of High Commission

• set up under the Act of Supremacy in 1559

• Prosecuted those whose loyalty was suspect

little was altered—still two ArchB.(Canterbury, York) and bishops remained, this kind of org. didn’t appear in any other Protestant churches in Europe(more emphasis on congregation organising itself)

How did the org. of the church of England changed?

England differed from other protestant churches in that it maintained Catholic remnants

Impact of org. of the church

Act of Uniformity, 1559

Set out rules about the appearance of churches, and said any practices that had existed in 1549 when the first prayer book was issued should still be followed

Acceptance of mildly protestant ideas about worship by the populace, church attendance compulsory, Catholic Mass became serious offence

Impact of Act of Uniformity(1559)

most people less concerned with theological disputes, so would accept mildly protestant ideas on worship—abrupt changes would be jarring for them

Why was the maintenance of Catholic appearances by the Act of Uniformity in 1559 a wise move?

Royal Injunctions(1559)

57 further instructions on governing the reformed faith—Protestantism.

preacher to be licensed by bishops prior to preaching, preacher must preach at least one service a month or lose license, every church required to have Bible in English, outlawed pilgrimages, banned destruction of altars

What were some of the rules and impact of the Royal Injunctions of 1559?

1559 Prayer Book

reinforced the Act of Uniformity(1559) by establishing a single agreed set of doctrines and setting out the way the services should be conducted

compromise between Protestants and Catholics—combined moderate language of 1549 book with the more openly protestants words of 1552 book

Impact of the 1559 Prayer Book

39 Articles of 1563, made into law in 1571

A statement by the convocation of the church defining what “Anglicanism” meant. Welded together parts from the different Protestant and Catholic traditions.

created the new faith of the country by finding a midway point where both faiths could meet

Impact of 39 Articles(1563)

Act of Exchange(1559)

allowed Eliz. to take taxes from the Church, as there there was a shortage of money due to conflict with France and Scotland