Elizabeth 1 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.

The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was contained in two acts – the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity.

The Act of Supremacy 1559

This required all clergymen and government officers to take an Oath of Supremacy. They had to swear that they would accept Elizabeth as Supreme Governor of the Church.

By using the term 'governor' it was hoped that Catholics would be appeased since they could still consider the Pope to be head of the Church. Those who refused to swear the oath could be imprisoned or even executed if they refused three times.

The Act of Uniformity 1559

This laid down the rules about religious services which were to be carried out in churches throughout Wales and England. 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 Catholics believed	Elizabeth's Religious Settlement	What Protestants believed
Church should be ruled by a strict hierarchy of the Pope, then Cardinals, then Archbishops etc.	Queen would rule as Supreme Governor supported by bishops.	There should be no Pope or bishops.
The most important ceremony is the Mass.	There should be no Mass.	There should be no Mass.
Services and Prayer Book should be in Latin.	Services and Prayer Book would be in English.	Services and Prayer Book should be in the native language.
Churches should be highly decorated and services full of ceremony.	Churches should be decorated and some ceremonies allowed.	Churches and services should be plain.
Priests should wear bright robes and not marry.	All clergy were to wear clerical dress and a white linen gown and not marry.	Plain robes should be worn by churchmen and they should be allowed to marry.
Saints should receive special prayers.	Saints should receive no special prayers.	Saints were unimportant.

At the start of the 16th century everyone in Wales and England was Catholic. However, some scholars abroad were beginning to argue that the Catholic Church had become too wealthy, corrupt and had moved away from the Bible.