Elizabeth's Religious Settlement

Act of Supremacy 1559

• Papal supremacy was rejected, a legislation that made Henry head of the church was restored

• Elizabeth took the title ‘Supreme Governer’ instead of Supreme Head

• Oath of supremacy had to be taken by clergymen and church officials - all except one bishop refuses so are replaced

• Heresy law which saw Mary burn Protestants was repealed

• Royal visitations to the church started to allow commissioners to check up on the clergy

Act of Uniformity 1559

• Specified use of Book of Common Prayer

• Included variations in wording of the Eucharist

• The Black Rubric was omitted

• Churches were to be restored in the pre-1549 style

• Priests were to wear vestments in pre-1549 style

• Everyone had to go to Elizabeth’s church of face a fine of 1 shilling per Sunday missed, but not many collected

Royal Injunctions 1559

• Laid out Protestant nature of church services and the need to suppress superstition practices

• Eucharist should be administered at a simple Communion table rather than an altar

• Put an end to Catholic superstitions such as pilgrimages and the use of candles

• Parish churches had to purchase an English bible and a copy of Erasmus’ Paraphrases

• Prospective wives of clergy had to produce a certificate signed by 2 JPS, acted as a deterrance which was more Catholic

Thirty-nine Articles 1563

• Drawn up by Church convocation in 1563 and confirmed by Act of Parliament in 1571

• Sought to define the doctrine of the Church of England

• An adaptation of Edward’s 42 articles

• Still the basis of the Church of England today