In 1571, the Thirty-Nine Articles were adopted as a confessional statement for the church, and a Book of Homilies was issued outlining the church's reformed theology in greater detail. The "Jacobean consensus" was shattered, and the Church of England began defining itself less broadly. [32] This made it easier for priests to "counterfeit" the Mass without risking arrest. He believed that as punishment by God for this communion, God was refusing him a male heir, and this influenced his decisions to divorce and remarry. The proposed settlement was roundly rejected and adulterated by the House of Lords, with its Catholic majority. What was the Elizabethan Religious Settlement? . "For a while, it was possible to sustain an attenuated Catholicism within the parish framework, by counterfeiting the mass, teaching the seven sacraments, preserving images of saints, reciting the rosary, observing feasts, fasts, and customs". Although most people were able to sing, worship was dominated by choral liturgies, especially in the cathedrals. Choosing to remain Catholic would surrender power to Rome and ally England with other Catholic states, such as France and Spain. Elizabeth's intention was that the Religious Settlement would prove a compromise acceptable to people of all religious standpoints. 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. After Henry's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, failed to give Henry an heir to his throne, Henry's eyes wandered! 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. These included injunctions allowing processions to take place at Rogationtide and requirements that clergy receive permission to marry from the bishop and two justices of the peace. 'Bloody Mary's' brief reign was ended by cancer, and her half-sister Elizabeth took the throne in 1558 CE. The north of England remained conservative in religious matters and England's three closest neighbours (Scotland, France, and Spain) were all Catholic states. [30], The Ornaments Rubric was added as one of the concessions to traditionalists in order to gain passage in the Lords. Cartwright, Mark. 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. How did the Elizabethan settlement affect the reformation in England? [40], Another historian, Diarmaid MacCulloch, also finds Neale's thesis flawed. Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes. Fig. Henry VIII secured his position on the throne through violence in 1485 when he defeated Richard III. Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. The Elizabethan Settlement provided the foundation for the Church of England, much of which is still in place today. Immediately after becoming Queen, she created the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. The reforms included allowing clerics to marry and denying transubstantiation. it seems, apart from the absence of images, that there is little difference between their ceremonies and those of the Church of Rome. [38], In his "Puritan Choir" thesis, historian J. E. Neale argues that Elizabeth wanted to pursue a conservative policy but was pushed in a radical direction by a Protestant faction in the House of Commons. [44], In the summer of 1559, the government conducted a royal visitation of the dioceses. Identify your study strength and weaknesses. Some Catholic religious opposition was not constraint to England, but failed to affect the successful establishment of Elizabeth's religious settlement. Few thought this was the rubric's meaning, however. Essay on Elizabeth's religious settlement. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. [83], The persecution of 15811592 changed the nature of Roman Catholicism in England. [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. [89] These Puritans were not without influence, enjoying the support of powerful men such as the Earl of Leicester, Walter Mildmay, Francis Walsingham, the Earl of Warwick and William Cecil. [66], The settlement of 1559 had given Protestants control of the Church of England, but matters were different at the parish level, where Catholic priests and traditional laity held large majorities. Others refused to conform. [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. Anyone suspected of not recognising Elizabeth as head of the Church would now find themselves before a new court, the Court of High Commission. [52] Through the mid-1650s, there were an estimated 800 clergy who resigned or were deprived for refusal to conform. How far do you agree? Most of the other posts went to Marian exiles such as Edmund Grindal for London, Richard Cox for Ely, John Jewel for Salisbury, William Barlow for Chichester and John Scory for Hereford. Her reason was: I would not open windows into men's souls"- Elizabeth I 1. The Elizabethan settlement did not settle the religious debates brought by the Reformation. The Elizabethan Religious Settlement. Taken together the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, supplemented by Royal Injunctions in July 1559, completed the settlement of religion upon which the Church of England is based. The proposed settlement was roundly rejected and adulterated by the House of . A debate was scheduled during the Easter recess between a team of Catholics and a team of Protestants, with the Privy Council as judge and Bacon as Chairman. The Church of Scotland was even more strongly Reformed, having a presbyterian polity and John Knox's liturgy, the Book of Common Order. Elizabeth's efforts led to the Religious Settlement, a legal process by which the Protestant Church of England was restored and the queen took the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Fig. The debate quickly descended into name-calling and two of the Catholics were sent to the Tower for contempt. All members of the Church had to take the oath of supremacy under the Act of Supremacy if they were to keep their posts. 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. In his private chapel, he added ceremonies and formulas not authorised in the prayer book, such as burning incense. In 1560, the bishops specified that the cope should be worn when administering the Lord's Supper and the surplice at all other times. This debacle occurred at the same time that Puritanism's most powerful defenders at Court were dying off. The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was a collection of laws and decisions concerning religious practices introduced between 1558-63 CE by Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603 CE). Other Catholic traditions which were maintained included making the sign of the cross during a baptism and priests wearing traditional vestments. The Elizabethan Clergy and the Settlement of Religion, 1558-1564. However, many Englishmen disagreed with its "middle ground" approach to religion to pacify Protestants and Catholics alike. Haigh argues that the Act of Uniformity "produced an ambiguous Book of Common Prayer: a liturgical compromise which allowed priests to perform the Church of England communion with Catholic regalia, standing in the Catholic position, and using words capable of Catholic interpretation". Somerset was a Calvinist, and the young king grew up with a host of Protestant tutors. There was opposition to the moderate features of the Settlement from both radical Catholics and radical Protestants. When Elizabeth inherited the throne, England was bitterly divided between Catholics and Protestants as a result of various religious changes initiated by Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I. Henry VIII had broken from the Roman Catholic Church and the authority of the pope, becoming Supreme Head of the Church of England. Henry wished to dissolve his marriage to Catherine and to be remarried to Anne Boleyn, but Pope Clement VII refused. The Elizabethan religious settlement survived with the attrition of other religious beliefs and practices. World History Encyclopedia. Elizabeth's bishops protested both moves as revivals of idolatry, arguing that all images were forbidden by the Second Commandment. [97] The majority of conformists were part of the Reformed consensus that included the Puritans; what divided the parties were disputes over church government. So much flipping back and forth between Protestantism and Catholicism left the country deeply divided. [72] In the early years, some 300 Catholics fled, especially to the University of Louvain. II Historians have examined the Reformation of the English Church in a number of This pressure meant that the Act was passed by Parliament but only by the slightest of majorities. Everything you need for your studies in one place. The Elizabethan Settlement was an attempt to end this religious turmoil. Books [102], In 1603, the King of Scotland inherited the English crown as James I. But that does not mean that it was never again contested. Regardless of how quickly Elizabethan reform spread throughout England, the legislation of the Elizabethan Settlement did stabilize the face of the Church of England. Only one Catholic bishop took the oath to Elizabeth - all the rest refused and lost their office. Protestantism would also create a fear of persecution among Englands Catholics. License. Understand the context, creation and significance of the Armada Portrait in our concise guide. [40] There were also conflicting directions for the placement of the communion tables that were to replace stone altars. Yes and no. Was there a middle ground between Catholics and Protestants? Under pressure from the Privy Council, Whitgift was forced to accept conditional subscriptions from defiant ministers. [67], Gradually, England was transformed into a Protestant country as the prayer book shaped Elizabethan religious life. The Church will not prohibit oath-taking by Christians for civic purposes. [40] These new royal injunctions were meant to fill in the details of the settlement and were to be enforced nationwide by six groups of clerical and lay commissioners. [74] In 1568, the English College at Douai was founded to provide a Catholic education to young Englishmen and, eventually, to train a new leadership for a restored Catholic Church in England. [7] Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist was no longer explained by the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation; instead, the 1552 Book of Common Prayer promoted the Reformed teaching of Christ's spiritual presence. [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. [46], The Injunctions offered clarity on the matter of vestments. It was designed to settle the divide between Catholics and Protestants and address the differences in services and beliefs. The Elizabethan Settlement was religious legislation that provided a compromise between English Catholics and Protestants. 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. [48] These provisions offended many Protestants, and in practice, the Injunctions were often ignored by church leaders. World History Encyclopedia. [86] Throughout her reign, the Queen successfully blocked attempts by Parliament and the bishops to introduce further change. Those who refused to attend Church of England services were called recusants. The hybrid thus created was a compromise that left numerous issues unresolved. His rise to power has been identified with a "conservative reaction" against Puritanism. A series of Church reforms that sought to create a middle ground between rival Catholics and Protestants. It is also true that many preachers simply carried on as before hoping not to be noticed by the authorities - who in some cases were sympathetic at a local level. [110] Many Puritans, however, were unwilling to conform to it. [41] During this time, Calvinist clergy held the best bishoprics and deaneries. It seemed that out of sight was out of mind, and this principle would apply to practising Christians of both sides in the debate. Despite the problems that sometimes arose, it proved to be a remarkable success. The settlement continued the English Reformation which had begun during the reign of her father, Henry VIII of England (r. 1509-1547 CE) whereby the Protestant Church of England split from the Catholic Church led by the Pope in Rome. Instead, she approached religion with a more pragmatic air. Then the student should consider the . It included the Act of Supremacy, Act of Uniformity, a new Book of Common Prayer, and the Thirty-Nine Articles. Episcopacy was replaced with a semi-presbyterian system. Under Mary's rule, England returned to the Catholic Church and recognised the pope's authority. 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. The Queen never forgave John Knox for writing The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstruous Regiment of Women, which denounced female monarchs, and the Reformation in Geneva was tainted by association. 30 Apr 2023. Many of these instructions concerned preachers who now had to have a license issued by a bishop and who were obliged to hold at least one service each month or lose that license. [117] The preface to the 1662 prayer book defined the Church of England as a via media "between the two extremes of too much stiffness in refusing and of too much easiness in admitting any variation". Discover the art of the Van de Veldes at the Queen's House, See the world's greatest space photography at the National Maritime Museum, Picnics and treats, free workshops and tours, plus a very special World Record attempt! Examples of permissible music included metrical psalms and liturgical texts such as the Te Deum. Was the Elizabethan settlement successful? After Queen Mary I died in 1558, Elizabeth I became queen. The Holy Scriptures contain "all things necessary for salvation. John Calvin, an influential Continental reformer, had called Henry VIII's claim to supreme headship blasphemy. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. John Whitgift of Cambridge University, a leading advocate for conformity, published a reply in October 1572, and he and Cartwright subsequently entered into a pamphlet war. Unlike the majority of her subjects Elizabeth had no appetite for further reformation . We care about our planet! Two other important features of the Act of Uniformity were, first, church attendance was made compulsory. Elizabeth's cautious reforms resulted in 'a Church that was Protestant in doctrine, Catholic in appearance'. [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". The Act of Supremacy 1559 This required all clergymen and government officers to . When Elizabeth I became queen in 1558, England's religious situation was dire. Last modified June 02, 2020. Henry named Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, as regent for the young King Edward VI. Elizabeth and her pro-reform ministers had to regroup and plan another strategy. It is more accurate to call Whitgift and those like him conformists, since the word conservative carries connotations of Catholicism. Even this was possible only through political intrigue. Cartwright, M. (2020, June 02). When Edward VI died, his sister Mary I became queen. The Elizabethan settlement of 1559 also known as the Elizabethan Religious Settlement contained a middle way solution to the Catholicism and Protestantism. As the queen put it, she would "open windows into no man's soul" (Woodward, 171). Almost 200 Catholic priests and those who helped them were hunted and burned. 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. Immediately, she established that England was not tied to Rome in any way. Mary died in November 1558 without a Catholic heir, leaving the throne to the Protestant Elizabeth. While broad and ambiguous, this provision was meant to reassure Catholics that they would have some protection. Hard-line Protestants and Catholics in England were both dissatisfied with Elizabeth's pragmatic stance as she went for a more middle-of-the-road approach which appealed to the largely indifferent majority of her subjects. There was much debate among traditionalists and zealous reformers about how this new church should look. Its purpose was to give the common people access to liturgies and prayers. [34] Edward's second regnal year ran from 28 January 1548 to 27 January 1549. Elizabeth had taken the decision to arrest any Catholic bishops that did not accept her authority as sovereign over them. [112], The Church of England was fundamentally changed. The Elizabethan Settlement intended to provide a compromise between Catholics and Protestants by incorporating elements of each faith into the Church of England. Also, like Elizabeth, Parker was a Nicodemitesomeone who stayed in England during Mary's reign and outwardly conformed to Catholicism. How successful was the Elizabethan religious settlement? How could she reconcile the nation? The outbreak of Protestant radicalism during the English Civil War challenged ideas of inclusion and tolerance within the church. StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. The traditionalist argument was very pro-Protestant. The Pope's authority was removed, but rather than granting the Queen the title of Supreme Head, it merely said she could adopt it herself. [4] The doctrines of purgatory, prayer for the dead and the intercession of saints were also rejected during this time. [43], Elizabeth chose Matthew Parker to replace Pole as Archbishop of Canterbury. By the 1580s, conformist Protestants (termed "parish anglicans" by Christopher Haigh and "Prayer Book protestants" by Judith Maltby) were becoming a majority. It included the Act of Supremacy, Act of Uniformity, a new Book of Common Prayer, and the Thirty-Nine Articles. They sing the psalms in English, and at certain hours of the day they use organs and music. Take a closer look with the unique Van de Velde drawings collection, How habitable are Jupiter's icy moons? She kept her crucifix and candles and dropped her plans to restore roods. [16] The Queen's principal secretary was Sir William Cecil, a moderate Protestant. Did the Elizabethan Settlement heal the divide between English Catholics and Protestants? 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. The reforms may have been mild but they were enough for the Pope to eventually excommunicate the queen for heresy in February 1570 CE. Meaning he could finally divorce Catherine! The Queen did not approve, disliking any attempt to undermine the concept of religious uniformity and her own religious settlement. When were the Thirty-Nine Articles passed? The queen's precise personal views on religion were difficult to determine. 8,000 priests and less important clergy did so. Stop procrastinating with our smart planner features. Mary was just as passionate a Catholic as Edward had been Protestant. The Elizabethan Settlement established a unified Church of England that included Protestant beliefs and the Catholic hierarchical structure. This division began during the reign of her father, Henry VIII. They established the practice of faith and religious procedures in England. 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). [15] It was obvious to most that these were temporary measures. They tried to push more Protestant-leaning reforms in 1566 but failed. Since the Act of Uniformity 1549 which approved the first prayer book was passed in January, it is likely that the provisions of the 1549 prayer book were intended, even though Edward's second year ended several months before the book was published.

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