Elizabethan Religious Settlement 1559

Why did Elizabeth have to create a stable church?

Failure to achieve this would threaten wars over religion, as many were happening across Europe

• had to consider parliaments POV

• had to be aware of the situation with foreign dealings with Spain, Scotland and France

What did Elizabeth I want to achieve with her Religious Settlement?

Wanted to establish a settlement of religion that would heal divisions but also maximise her own control over the Church, rather than something that reflected her personal theology

Why do we assume that Elizabeth I was of Protestant faith?

Clearly had a preference to protestant ideas

• daughter of Anne Boleyn - connected to a family sympathetic to religious reforms

• teacher: Sir Roger Ascham - acknowledgeable to Lutheran (protestant) reforms

• within a month of becoming Queen appeared furious when the Dean of St Pauls presented her with a copy of the Prayer Book containing illustrations of Saints

Although Elizabeth I appeared to be Protestant, what traditional teachings did she enjoy?

• Music & Candles

• Supported idea that Priests should devote their lives to God and not marry - one big disagreement she had with her Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker

What was the Act of Supremacy 1559?

Re-established he English Monarch as the head of the Church to ‘Supreme Governor’

• less controversial title then their ‘Supreme Head’ - able to satisfy those who still regard the Pope as the head of their Church

Required all churchmen to swear an oath of loyalty to the Supreme Governor - supported by all

• reformation under H8 was restored

• Hersey laws under M1 removed

• Commissioners sent to visit Churches to investigate errors, abuses and heresy

What was the Act of Uniformity 1559?

Set out rules about the appearances of the Churches

• any practices that existed in 1549 (First Prayer of Book issued) should be followed

• altars was replaced by the more Protestant communion table it could have Catholic candles and crosses placed upon it

• outlined what priests should wear to conduct services - nod to Catholicism

• attendance at Church was made compulsory - would be fined and money collected was distributed to the poor

What was the 1559 Prayer Book?

Issued as a way of which services should be conducted - fusion of the two Prayer Books issued under Edward VI

• took language out of the First Common Prayer Book (1549)

• more openly Protestant words of the Second Common Prayer Book (1552)

Showed compromise between Protestants and Catholics

• Form of worship which was outlined in the Act of Uniformity was to give a single agreed set of doctrines throughout the country, end any disputes

How did the 1559 Prayer Book address the question of the Bread and the Wine?

Struck a balance and required priests to say an extremely vague passage - for interpretation

• Catholics = body & blood

• Protestants = symbolism

What was the Royal Injunctions 1559?

Further instructions (57) including:

• Preaches had to be licensed by a Bishop

• Had to preach a service monthly or lose license

• Had to have a Bible in English (1538 Injunctions)

• Pilgrimages were outlawed

• No more alters to be destroyed

• Visitors to the Churches were Protestant

• Wives of the Clergy had to produce a certificate about their fitness for role

What was the Thirty-Nine Articles 1563?

Defined Anglicanism - published in 1563 and made into law in 1571

• brought together the parts of Protestantism and Catholicism traditions into a whole that was accepted by as many people as possible

What are 4 Examples of what was in the Thirty-Nine Articles?

• Holy Trinity - only one living and true God with three persons

• The Word or Son of God, who was made a true Man

• Christ going down to Hell - died for us and was buried

• The Resurrection of Jesus Christ - rose again from death and took back his body

What was Elizabeth I’s intention with the Religious Settlement?

Provided a compromise acceptable to people of all religious standpoints

What did the 1560s look like thanks to Elizabeth’s religious settlement?

Religious stability provided in Wales and England

• achievement since Wales had been generally Catholic over previous decades (even published Bible in Welsh - first time ever!)

How many Clergyman took the Oath of Supremacy?

Majority

• 250 out of 9000 priests refused and lost their jobs

Was there a large opposition to Elizabeth’s religious settlement?

Many devout Catholic bishops resigned and therefore did not provide a strong opposition

• positions were filled by loyal supporters

Were the Recusancy fines strictly enforced?

No

• as long as people outwardly conformed to the Settlement, tolerance was allowed

How did Matthew Parker influence the belief about the Religious Settlement?

Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury - widely respected as a moderate Protestant