religious settlement

when did Elizabeth introduce the Religious Settlement?

1558

what were Elizabeth’s aims?

• heal division between Catholics (north/west) and Protestants (south/east)

  • France and Germany both had civil wars

• maximise her personal power and wealth

  • by taking control of as much of the Church as possible

when was the Act of Uniformity passed?

1559

what was the Act of Uniformity?

• lessened tensions and enforced ideas

  • important for commoners

how did the Act of Uniformity (1559) satisfy Catholics?

• ornaments could not be placed on the communion table

• priests wore Catholic-style vestments

• Churches decorated

• Catholics can practise in private

how did the Act of Uniformity (1559) satisfy Protestants?

• altar replaced by communion table

• new “Book of Prayer” issued with Protestant ideas

• traditional Catholic Mass abandoned

• Bible and services in English

• priests could marry

• old Catholic practices banned

  • pilgrimage

  • superstitious images

when was the Act of Supremacy passed?

1559

what was the Act of Supremacy?

• political aims regarding the Church

• re-established the break from Rome and independence of the Church of England

what was declared in the Act of Supremacy (1559)?

• Elizabeth was the “Supreme Governor”

  • less controversial compared to the “Supreme Head”, used by her brother, father and the Pope

why was the Act of Supremacy (1559) important?

• enforced Elizabeth’s position as Supreme Governor

  • important for nobles

• enforced the structure of the Church

what were weaknesses of Elizabeth’s religious settlement?

• strong Catholics not satisfied

  • traditional mass removed

  • transubstantiation dismissed

• Puritans not satisfied

  • too much Catholicism present

  • Church still ornately decorated

what were the strengths of Elizabeth’s religious settlement?

• appeased Catholics and Protestants (compromise)

• enforced Elizabeth’s power

• Pope relatively appeased

• Elizabeth’s views clearly outlined

• Catholics could practise in private

• prevent civil war like in France and Germany