was the elizabethan religious settlement successful

", Salvation comes from God's grace alone and not through good works. Gradually, however, parishes complied as bishops exerted pressure. The Elizabethan Settlement was an attempt to end this religious turmoil. Some lost faith in the Church of England as an agent of reform, becoming separatists and establishing underground congregations. . Will you pass the quiz? [32] The Litany in the 1552 book had denounced "the bishop of Rome, and all his detestable enormities". Cite This Work [35], The most significant revision was a change to the Communion Service that added the words for administering sacramental bread and wine from the 1549 prayer book to the words in the 1552 book. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. [76] Initially, recusant priests advised the laity to simply abstain from Protestant communion. Elizabeth's bishops protested both moves as revivals of idolatry, arguing that all images were forbidden by the Second Commandment. Anne gave birth to Henry's daughter; Elizabeth I and Henry was undoubtedly disappointed again. Although it did not heal the divide brought on by the Reformation, it did stabilize the Church of England, and many of the religious decisions made during the Elizabethan Settlement period remain part of the Anglican church today. This new amalgamated version, like its predecessors, set out how church services should be conducted and was itself to be used in those services. Elizabeth's intention was that the Religious Settlement would prove a compromise acceptable to people of all religious standpoints. With bishops, however, only one agreed to take the oath and all the others had to step down. Even this was possible only through political intrigue. Upload unlimited documents and save them online. It included the Act of Supremacy, Act of Uniformity, a new Book of Common Prayer, and the Thirty-Nine Articles. Crucially, the Prayer Book dealt with the bread and wine of the communion service. [38] In 1559, Elizabeth was still unsure of the theological orientation of her Protestant subjects, and she did not want to offend the Lutheran rulers of northern Europe by veering too far into the Reformed camp. Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. [25][26], Following the Queen's failure to grant approval to the previous bill, Parliament reconvened in April 1559. It seemed that out of sight was out of mind, and this principle would apply to practising Christians of both sides in the debate. Debating the Elizabethan religious settlement. The Elizabethan settlement of 1559 also known as the Elizabethan Religious Settlement contained a middle way solution to the Catholicism and Protestantism. [62] Although it was not legally required, it was traditional for virtually all Protestant churches and was also used at home. Essentially, they covered all the matters not yet set out in previous legislation and aimed to definitively establish what was meant by the English version of Protestantism, otherwise known as Anglicism. This act stipulated what the interior of churches should look like. Elizabeth herself was happy enough to have such quintessential Catholic elements as candles and a crucifix in her own private chapel. As for the manner of their service in church and their prayers, except that they say them in the English tongue, one can still recognise a great part of the Mass, which they have limited only in what concerns individual communion. The Elizabethan Settlement intended to provide a compromise between Catholics and Protestants by incorporating elements of each faith into the Church of England. Recently saved for the nation, the Armada Portrait commemorates the most famous conflict of Elizabeth I's reign the failed invasion of England by the Spanish Armada in summer 1588. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. [23][21] It was not popular with the clergy, and the Convocation of Canterbury reacted by affirming papal supremacy, transubstantiation and the Mass as a sacrificial offering. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. Bacon outlined the course to reach this goal by explaining that members were not to insult each other with terms like 'heretic', 'schismatic' or 'Papist'. [71], In the early years of Elizabeth's reign, most Catholics hoped the Protestant ascendancy would be temporary, as it had been prior to Mary's restoration of papal authority. This illustrated guide gives an overview of the context, creation and significance of the Portrait, alongside evaluation of Elizabeths legacy A wondrous decorative ornament inspired by the armillary sphere astronomical instrument. In the aftermath of the conformist assault, the 1590s were relatively free of theological controversy. We care about our planet! Despite these reactions, and considering the changes made and the violence witnessed in some other European countries, England had overcome a difficult and potentially dangerous hurdle, even if there would be more to come in the following decades as religious matters affected foreign policy and vice-versa. The first act passed by the House of Commons in February 1559 joined together a bill of supremacy, establishing Queen Elizabeth I as head of the church, with one of uniformity, dealing with the type of faith and service. Most of the parish clergy were Catholics. [101], In response to Bridges' A Defence of the Government Established in the Church of England for Ecclesiastical Matters, an anonymous Puritan under the pseudonym Martin Marprelate published a series of tracts attacking leading conformist clergy. Create beautiful notes faster than ever before. As a Protestant, Elizabeth had to tread carefully between both faiths to maintain unity. In 1645, the prayer book was made illegal and replaced by the Directory for Public Worship. [88], The controversy over dress divided the Protestant community, and it was in these years that the term Puritan came into use to describe those who wanted further reformation. The Elizabethan Religious Settlement. This change of title placated those who did not feel that a woman could be the head of the church, and the act passed fairly easily. According to the prayer book, the table should be placed permanently in the chancel oriented east to west. Related Content World History Encyclopedia. The Act of Uniformity of 1559 set out the groundwork for the Elizabethan church. Through the 1580s, Puritans were organised enough to conduct what were essentially covert national synods. There were 10,000 parishes in England at this time so this shows that the religious settlement was largely successful. She inherited an England deeply divided on religious issues. [81] In 1580, the first Jesuit priests came to England. Essentially, the act returned churches to their appearance in 1549 CE. . As the historian D. Starkey notes, Elizabeth's cautious reforms resulted in "a Church that was Protestant in doctrine, Catholic in appearance" (314). There is none other like it in Europe. [28], The bill included permission to receive communion in two kinds. Enjoy the bank holiday weekend celebrating King Charles III's coronation, Why do artists draw, and what can their sketches teach us about their skills and techniques? A priest found guilty of performing a mass could face the death penalty. It was also a concession to the Queen's Protestant supporters who objected to "supreme head" on theological grounds and who had concerns about a female leading the Church. Search here. Queen Elizabeth was in attendance for the opening speech which was delivered by Nicholas Bacon, the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. [109] The English Civil War resulted in the overthrow of Charles I, and a Puritan dominated Parliament began to dismantle the Elizabethan Settlement. 1559: Parliament passes the Act of Uniformity and the Act of Supremacy. [65], With the Queen's approval, Convocation also issued a second Book of Homilies with sermons on 20 topics. The fine was one shilling, then about one day's labour for a skilled worker, but few were collected in practice. [50] A year later, the Queen herself ordered the demolition of all lofts, but the rood beams were to remain on which the royal arms were to be displayed. Queen Elizabeth I inherited a nation suffering from religious flux, but went on to build a stable, peaceful nation. Queen Elizabeth I wanted to build a stable, peaceful nation with a strong government, free from the influence of foreign powers in matters of the church and the state. All members of the Church had to take the oath of supremacy under the Act of Supremacy if they were to keep their posts. Have all your study materials in one place. It included the Act of Supremacy, Act of Uniformity, a new Book of Common Prayer, and the Thirty-Nine Articles. The bishops were placed in the difficult position of enforcing conformity while supporting reform. The Thirty-nine Articles were not intended as a complete statement of the Christian faith but of the position of the Church of England in relation to the Catholic Church and dissident Protestants. Yes and no. The Thirty-nine Articles of 1563 CE (made law in 1571 CE) were the final part of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. Immediately after becoming Queen, she created the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. [11], Elizabeth's religious views were Protestant, though "peculiarly conservative". What was a Protestant element of the new Church of England? One thing Elizabeth did insist upon was to reinstate herself as head of the Church. [4] The doctrines of purgatory, prayer for the dead and the intercession of saints were also rejected during this time. The Elizabethan Settlement did not heal the divide between Protestants and Catholics. [113] The suppression and marginalisation of Prayer Book Protestants during the 1640s and 1650s had made the prayer book "an undisputed identifier of an emerging Anglican self-consciousness. One, "Of the Worthy Receiving of the Sacrament", added more detail to the church's doctrine of the Eucharist, which was described as "spiritual food" and "a ghostly substance and not carnal" made real by faith. The Church of England's refusal to adopt the patterns of the Continental Reformed churches deepened conflict between Protestants who desired greater reforms and church authorities who prioritised conformity. A large number of the Parliament, who were still Catholic, opposed the bill, and it was eventually only passed by three votes: 21 to 18. Subsequently, two Catholics, John Felton and John Story, were executed for treason. Immediately, she established that England was not tied to Rome in any way. Cartwright, Mark. However, many Englishmen disagreed with its "middle ground" approach to religion to pacify Protestants and Catholics alike. In his private chapel, he added ceremonies and formulas not authorised in the prayer book, such as burning incense. When Elizabeth I became queen in 1558, England's religious situation was dire. His rise to power has been identified with a "conservative reaction" against Puritanism. Mark is a full-time author, researcher, historian, and editor. The Queen did not approve, disliking any attempt to undermine the concept of religious uniformity and her own religious settlement. The English Civil War and overthrow of the monarchy allowed the Puritans to pursue their reform agenda and the dismantling of the Elizabethan Settlement for a period. World History Encyclopedia. They would spend more money on buying Bibles and prayer books and replacing chalices with communion cups (a chalice was designed for the priest alone whereas a communion cup was larger and to be used by the whole congregation). Act of Supremacy (1559): This Act established Elizabeth I as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Fig. [60], Devotional singing at home was shared between family and friends. But that does not mean that it was never again contested. This was particularly evident between 1565 and 1567 during the Vestments controversy over the refusal of some clergy to wear the clerical dress required by the Royal Injunctions. Edward VI believed that strict Protestantism was best for the Church of England, and his reforms undid all of the protections for traditional religion enacted in 1539. Catherine of Aragon was Henry VIII's brother's wife. The injunctions ordered the "holy table" to be carried into the chancel during communion services but at all other times to be placed where the altar would have stood. Before 1574, most laymen were not made to take the Oath of Supremacy and the 12d fine for missing a service was poorly enforced. Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! After the Restoration in 1660, the Settlement was restored, and the Puritans were forced out of the Church of England. The Book of Common Prayer gave English-speaking people prayers in their language. It restored the 1552 version of the English Prayer Book but kept many of the familiar old practices and allowed for two interpretations of communion, one Catholic and one Protestant. - Elizabeth proclaimed that she did not wish to made windows into men's souls. [83], The persecution of 15811592 changed the nature of Roman Catholicism in England. After his wife, Catherine of Aragon, failed to produce a male heir, Henry applied to the pope for an annulment of his marriage. [15] At Westminster Abbeystill a Benedictine monasterythe Queen disapproved of what she considered Catholic superstition, telling the monks bearing candles in procession, "Away with those torches, for we see very well". [85] In England, however, Protestants were forced to operate within a church structure unchanged since medieval times with the same threefold orders of bishop, priest and deacon along with church courts that continued to use medieval canon law. [12] She also kept many of her religious views private, which can make it difficult to determine what she believed. Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan. [29], The bill easily passed the House of Commons. During Edward's reign, the Church of England adopted a Reformed theology and liturgy. Includes paragraphs on the establishment of her religious settlement at the beginning of her reign; the severe opposition (Catholic, Puritan and Presbyterian) faced by her religious settlement throughout her reign which impeded its successful establishment. Many became leaders of an underground Catholic Church. The proposed settlement was roundly rejected and adulterated by the House of Lords, with its Catholic majority. [51], Many parishes were slow to comply with the injunctions. Rycote Chapel, OxfordshirePeter Reed (CC BY-NC) The revised Act of Supremacy still abolished papal supremacy, but defined Elizabeth as Supreme Governor, rather than Supreme Head, of the church. [107] Due to their belief in free will, this new faction is known as the Arminian party, but their high church orientation was more controversial. This iconic portrait isnow back on public display in the Queen's House after careful conservation. Its purpose was to give the common people access to liturgies and prayers. The Church of England was Protestant at its core but took the hierarchy from the Catholics by keeping archbishops and bishops. While many people were either pro-Catholic or pro-Protestant, it is likely that many more were attracted to elements from both sides such as, for example, admiring the beautiful ornamentation of a gold crucifix yet favouring the use of English in services. The Church that Elizabeth created is unique. 'Bloody Mary's' brief reign was ended by cancer, and her half-sister Elizabeth took the throne in 1558 CE. No, the feud between these religions would continue until the end of the seventeeth century. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving" [1552]. This division began during the reign of her father, Henry VIII. A revised supremacy bill had passed the House of Commons before the recess but had been . [116] The clash between Calvinists and Arminians was never resolved, and the "seesaw battle between Catholic and Protestant within a single Anglican ecclesiastical structure has been proceeding ever since". Extremism would not be tolerated and name-calling and mud-slinging would not move things forward. In 1560, Bishop Grindal was allowed to enforce the demolition of rood lofts in London. In 1581, a new law made it treason to be absolved from schism and reconciled with Rome and the fine for recusancy was increased to 20 per month (50 times an artisan's wage). Elizabeth I Sieve PortraitQuentin Metsys the Younger (Public Domain). Bibliography By the 1580s, conformist Protestants (termed "parish anglicans" by Christopher Haigh and "Prayer Book protestants" by Judith Maltby) were becoming a majority. This act ignited the English Reformation and established a unique form of Protestantism known as Anglicanism as the official religion. Help us and translate this article into another language! Indulge in gifts inspired by its Elizabethan symbolism. Create flashcards in notes completely automatically. The Religious Settlement was an effort by Elizabeth I to unite the country. [17] Her Privy Council was filled with former Edwardian politicians, and only Protestants preached at Court. [64][pageneeded] In 1571, Convocation finalised the Thirty-nine Articles. The visitation was conducted according to injunctions based on the Royal Injunctions of 1547. "[108] Laudianism, however, was unpopular with both Puritans and Prayer Book Protestants, who viewed the high church innovations as undermining forms of worship they had grown attached to. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Henry VIII secured his position on the throne through violence in 1485 when he defeated Richard III. Elizabeth was seemingly a moderate in religious views and she wished above all to avoid the bloody scenes of executed martyrs that her predecessor had presided over. Unlike the majority of her subjects Elizabeth had no appetite for further reformation . 'The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was successfully established in the years 1558-1603. . [118] Although Elizabeth I "cannot be credited with a prophetic latitudinarian policy which foresaw the rich diversity of Anglicanism", her preferences made it possible. 8,000 priests and less important clergy did so. Changes needed to be introduced with a minimum of confrontation in order to overcome fear and suspicion at home and abroad. While most people conformed, a minority of recusants remained loyal Roman Catholics. Elizabeth accepted the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England upon her ascension in 1558. What historian argued that the Elizabethan reforms were slow to take hold in some regions of England? The outbreak of Protestant radicalism during the English Civil War challenged ideas of inclusion and tolerance within the church. This pressure meant that the Act was passed by Parliament but only by the slightest of majorities. The queen's reassertion of control over religious matters was achieved via the April 1559 CE Act of Supremacy, once more closing the door on the Pope. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1565/the-elizabethan-religious-settlement/. II Historians have examined the Reformation of the English Church in a number of The Elizabethan Settlement established a unified Church of England that included Protestant beliefs and the Catholic hierarchical structure. World History Encyclopedia. Every church had to have a Bible in English available to its congregation, no further altars were to be destroyed, and pilgrimages were banned. [91], By 1572, the debate between Puritans and conformists had entered a new phasechurch government had replaced vestments as the major issue. [33] The rubric provided instructions for clerical vestments, stating that until the Queen ordered otherwise ministers were to "use such ornaments as were in use by the authority of Parliament in the second year of the reign of King Edward VI". [31], The Act of Uniformity required church attendance on Sundays and holy days and imposed fines for each day absent. Elizabeth . In response, a group of conformists including Richard Bancroft, John Bridges, Matthew Sutcliffe, Thomas Bilson, and Hadrian Saravia began defending the English Church's episcopal polity more strongly, no longer merely accepting it as convenient but asserting it as divine law. The 1549 prayer book required clergy to wear the alb, cope and chasuble. Books The seminary priests were dependent on the gentry families of southern England. However, as a result of the Northern Rebellion, excommunication by the Pope and challenge of MQS, E was forced to impose strict penalties against Catholics. The 1588 Marprelate Controversy led to the discovery of the presbyterian organisation that had been built up over the years. The next step followed quick on the heels of the first and was the May 1559 CE Act of Uniformity. Calvinists were divided between conformists and Puritans, who wanted to abolish what they considered papist abuses and replace episcopacy with a presbyterian church government. "The Elizabethan Religious Settlement." In this address, Elizabeth deliberately disassociated herself from the unpopular regime under Queen Mary I by signalling how hers would be different. One of the most visible differences from traditional Catholic churches was the replacement of the altar with a communion table. Christians must not make oaths for civic duty. [111] Puritans became dissenters. "[114] Historian Judith Maltby writes that Anglicanism as a recognisable tradition "owes more to the Restoration than the Reformation". What year were the Acts of Uniformity and Supremacy passed? Some modifications were made to appeal to Catholics and Lutherans, including giving individuals greater latitude concerning belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and permission to use traditional priestly vestments. The is essay will argue that in the period 15581564 the religious settlement was broadly success useful as it was slowly adhered to with little opposition up until 1564. [72] In the early years, some 300 Catholics fled, especially to the University of Louvain. [68][69][70] Efforts to introduce further religious reforms through Parliament or by means of Convocation were consistently blocked by the Queen. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1565/the-elizabethan-religious-settlement/. Historians John Coffey and Paul C. H. Lim write that the Elizabethan Church "was widely regarded as a Reformed church, but it was anomalous in retaining certain features of late medieval Catholicism", such as cathedrals, church choirs, a formal liturgy contained in the prayer book, traditional clerical vestments and episcopal polity. [13][14] At certain times, the Queen made her religious preferences clear, such as on Christmas Day 1558, when before Mass she instructed Bishop Owen Oglethorpe not to elevate the host. The Act of Supremacy of 1558 re-established the Church of England's independence from Rome, and Parliament conferred on Elizabeth the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England. [98] Whitgift's first move against the Puritans was a requirement that all clergy subscribe to three articles, the second of which stated that the Prayer Book and Ordinal contained "nothing contrary to the word of God". Her reason was: I would not open windows into men's souls"- Elizabeth I 1. The priests wear the hood and surplice. Find out with the European Space Agency's groundbreaking mission, Explore how water and the sea seeps into Shakespeare's works with the National Maritime Museum, Search our online database and exploreour objects, paintings, archives and library collectionsfrom home, Come behind the scenes at our state-of-the-art conservation studio, Visit the world's largest maritime library and archive collection at the National Maritime Museum, The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea, Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition, Coronation celebrations at Royal Museums Greenwich, A Sea of Drawings: the art of the Van de Veldes, The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, Find out how you can use our collections for research, Royal Greenwich: A History in Kings and Queens by Pieter van der Merwe. Elizabeth and her pro-reform ministers had to regroup and plan another strategy. As the older generation of recusant priests died out, Roman Catholicism collapsed among the lower classes in the north, west and in Wales. Bishops Watson of Lincoln and White of Winchester were imprisoned in the Tower. In addition to the English College at Douai, a seminary was established at Rome and two more established in Spain. When Parliament reconvened in April, the two issues were presented separately and considerable concessions were made. What were the main features of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement? Some Catholic religious opposition was not constraint to England, but failed to affect the successful establishment of Elizabeth's religious settlement. When his request was denied, Henry separated the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church and claimed that he, rather than the pope, was its supreme head on earth. Try and produce an argument for your decision by gathering evidence from the article! This was partially due to ambiguous doctrinal changes which did not greatly affect everyday life, among other factors. There were priests who conformed to the prayer book while also providing the Mass to their parishioners. [40], Another historian, Diarmaid MacCulloch, also finds Neale's thesis flawed. This would help secure her throne in political terms, too. Last modified June 02, 2020. The Royal Injunctions of July 1559 CE set out a further 57 regulations for the Church of England to follow. Once Whitgift had destroyed presbyterian activism, he was content to leave the Puritans alone. [39] This theory has been challenged by Christopher Haigh, who argues that Elizabeth wanted radical reform but was pushed in a conservative direction by the House of Lords. The Church of England was then moved even closer towards full Protestantism under Henry's successor, his son Edward VI of England (r. 1547-1553 CE). This debacle occurred at the same time that Puritanism's most powerful defenders at Court were dying off. [1] Under Elizabeth's half-brother, Edward VI, the Church of England became more explicitly Protestant, projecting a "restrained" Calvinism, in the words of historian Christopher Haigh. [13] At the same time, he calls the idea that the prayer book modifications were concessions to Catholics "absurd", writing that "these little verbal and visual adjustments" would never satisfy Catholic clergy and laity after the loss of "the Latin mass, monasteries, chantries, shrines, gilds and a compulsory celibate priesthood". When Edward VI died, his sister Mary I became queen.

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