Religious Settlement

1. Religious Settlement Religion in England

2. Introduction • Religion had divided England since 1530. • When Elizabeth became Queen there was an • expectation she would return England to • Protestantism. Elizabeth’s Reign Created Tension Pope never considered her rightful ruler of England Living Symbol of Henry VIII break with Rome Catholics considered her illegitimate. • Bloody Mary’sreign had been associated with the…. • Persecution of Protestants • Loss of Calais • Elizabeth wanted to…. • Distance herself from Mary’s bloody legacy • Introduce new policies • While there is little doubt over her own Protestant • beliefs, she realised that religious changes made an • impact at home and abroad. It had caused rebellion and repression. 2. Linked to succession and potential candidates 3. Determined foreign policy

3. Elizabeth’s Religious Inheritance • England’s religion determined by the King or Queen. • Between 1530-1558 the official religion of England • changed a number of times. Religious Changes • Broke with Rome Henry VIII • Became Head of the Church • Somerset introduced Protestant • prayer book Edward VI • Northumberland introduced the • 42 Articles: removed Catholicism • from Common Prayer Book • Restored Papal authority Mary I • Restored Catholic doctrine • Persecution of Protestants

4. Choices and Consequences • Elizabeth had THREE important factors she had to • consider when determining England’s religious • direction. SPAIN FRANCE • Alliance to counter • threat of France • Mary Stuart claimed • English throne The Situation In Europe SCOTLAND NETHERLANDS • A threat because • of Mary of Guise • Ruled by Spain. • England needed • access to Antwerp POPE • Could excommunicate Elizabeth & order a • religious crusade against her House of Commons House of Lords • Supportive • Protestants • Opposition from • Catholic bishops • & nobles The Situation At Home Privy Council Marian Exiles • Protestant & • political allies • Wanted key roles. • Opposed Catholics The People • Conservative

5. CLERGY GOVERNMENT • Mostly Catholic • Sermon’s promoted • anti-Protestant • sympathies • Opposed to a woman • being Head of • the Church The Situation In the Church ORGANISATION RITUAL • No significant • changes • Less emphasis • on external • trappings DOCTRINE • Influenced by • Reformers The Elizabethan Church What kind of church did Elizabeth want? • Any answer depends on our view of Elizabeth’s faith • and her religious beliefs. Elizabeth’s Faith Indifferent Pious • Her position would determine the kind of church • Elizabeth wanted.

6. Features of Elizabeth’s Church • Elizabeth wanted a broad church that would appeal to • both Protestants and Catholics. Catholic ceremony Protestant doctrine Elizabethan Church • There were a number of advantages of having a • broad church that sought to steer a middle ground • that would appeal to the majority of people. Advantage for Protestants • Appear to be a Protestant Heroine. • Signal herbreak with the repression of ‘Bloody Mary.’ • Ensure loyalty of the politically active. Advantage for Catholics • Retaining rituals and ceremony was reassuring. • Avoid social upheaval. • Reassurance to Catholics leaders in Europe of religious stability. Not too many changes introduced. • In choosing a middle-of-the road approach • Elizabeth hoped to avoid religious persecution and a civil war. The only people unhappy with Elizabeth’s church were religious extremists among the Catholics and Protestants.

7. The Religious Settlement • Elizabeth and her Privy council were concerned that • a change in religion could result in…. • A civil war. • A war with France and Spain • A rebellion in Scotland • Elizabeth’s middle-of-the roadposition meant she • faced criticism from…. • Catholics who accused her of ‘going too far.’ • Protestantswho accused her of ‘not going far enough.’ The Religious Settlement 1559 • Act of Supremacy • Determined • Elizabeth’s authority • over the Church • Act of Uniformity • Religious • conformity

8. The Religious Settlement Act of Uniformity Act of Supremacy • Elizabeth becomes • Supreme Governor • Church attendance • Uniformity in • order of service • Oath of allegiance What Do Historians Say? Traditional View J.E. Neale • Elizabeth was conservative. • She wanted a Henrician Church (Catholic Church but without the Pope) • She was pressured by the ‘Puritan Choir’ in the House of Commons into a more Protestant Settlement than she originally intended. Revisionist View N. Jones • Main opposition came from Catholics in the House of Lords who pressured Elizabeth into including more Catholic elements into the Settlement than she originally intended.

9. The Key Features of the Religious Settlement • The Act of Supremacyand the Act of Uniformity • established the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. Imposed Oath of Allegiance Elizabeth made Supreme Governor Punished opponents of Prayer Book Religious Settlement Revoked Heresy Act & Papal Supremacy Punished recusants Omitted the Black Rubric from Prayer Book Royal Injunctions • Was drafted by William Ceciland ordered clergy to… • Observe Royal Supremacy. • Preach against Papal authorityand superstition. • Condemn images,and relics. • Report recusantsto the privy councilor JPs. • Observe Ornaments Rubric. • 125 commissioners were appointed to enforce the • Religious Settlementand the 39 Articles.

10. Issues from the Settlement Doctrinal Confusion Shortage of Qualified Clergy Fear of Pope Pius IV’s response Refining the Religious Settlement 1559-1563 1559 • Non-conforming • Catholic bishops • removed • Commissioners • took oath of • supremacy & • monitored use of • Prayer Book 1560 Latin Prayer Book allowed Requiem Mass Royal Injunctions allowed use of vestments Elizabeth restored Crucifix/candles in her chapel 1561 Elizabeth opposed marriage of clergy 1563 39 Articles defined Church doctrine • The 39 Articles were given statutory authority • in 1571.

11. Was the Religious Settlement a Success? • The answer is both ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ It was a • success in the sense that the Church of England • became the permanent national church. But • it ….. • Was lengthy process and it took all of Elizabeth’s reign for England to become thoroughly Protestant. • It was not a success in the sense that many of the • religious issues that were divisive remained • unresolved. • As a result it took a great deal of skill on the part of • Elizabeth and her Privy Council to ensure the • success of her legislative program.