A2 FP1 : Consolidation of Power : The Religious Settlement Flashcards
Conceptual Awareness - The Religious Settlement
How had Mary I left the Church at the end of her reign (1558)?
Under Mary I the Church of England had been reverted back to Catholicism, Mary reversed the legislation which had protected and encouraged the growth of English Protestantism.
During Mary’s reign the Henrican Reformation was reversed, the excommunication was lifted on England and the Royal Supremacy was ended. Protestants were persecuted, there was a mass exodus of 800 protestants in 1554 and about 300 protestants were executed.
Conceptual Awareness - The Religious Settlement
Describe 4 legislative acts passed during Mary’s reign which altered the state of the church?
- October 1553, The Religious laws which had been passed during Edward VI’s reign were repealed.
- December 1553, Mary had given up the title of Supreme Head of the Church
- In April 1554, Heresy laws were restored.
- November 1554, Parliament passed the Second Act of Repeal, which undid all anti-papal legislation since 1529 and the Henrican reformation.
Conceptual Awareness
Who were martyred during Mary’s reign?
- Ridley
- Latimer
- Cramner
Conceptual Awareness
Provide a summary description of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement.
The Elizabethan Settlement (1559) created, in practice, a via media (middle way) between Catholicism and Protestantism. It was established through 2 Acts of Parliament, the issue of a set of Royal Injunctions to enforce the Acts and the publication of a new book of common prayer. In addition, although not part of the original settlement of 1559, the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion were introduced in 1563.
When was the Elizabethan Settlement?
1559
Legislation - consolidation of power
When was the Act of Supremacy?
May 1559
Legislation - consolidation of power
Describe the Act of Supremacy.
The Act of Supremacy, May 1559, re-established the English Monarch as the Head of the Church.
The Act therefore restored the legal position of the crown in relation to the church which had been established by Henry VIII. It gave legislative authority to the crown in matters relating to the Church.
Legislation - Consolidation of power
What did the Act of Supremacy state?
The Act of Supremacy stated that,
- The Papal Supremacy is rejected
- The Heresy laws that were revived under Mary have been repealed.
- The powers of Royal visitation of the Church were revived, allowing Commissioners to visit churches and seek out “all such errors, heresies and abuses.”
- Elizabeth became Supreme Governor of the Church rather than Supreme Head.
- All Churchmen were required to swear an Oath of Loyalty to the new Supreme Governor.
Legislation - Consolidation of Power.
What was significant about the revival of the Church’s powers of Royal Visitation under the 1559 Act of Supremacy?
The revivial of the Church’s powers of visitations allowed the crown to appoint commissioners to order, correct and amend all such errors, heresies and abuses. Heresies were not defined and could be decided on by the commissioner.
- Allowed Elizabeth to extend her royal authority and will across England in the long-term.
Legislation - Consolidation of Power
What was significant about Elizabeth calling herself the ‘Supreme Govenor’ of the Church?
In effect, her status was the same which had been held by Henry VIII and Edward VI but by choosing a less controversial title than ‘Supreme Head of the Church’. She was able to satisfy those people who still regarded the Pope / God as Head of the Church or believed that women couldn’t hold the top position.
- Catholic Concession
Legislation - Consolidation of Power
What was significant about Clergy having to swear an Oath of Loyalty to Elizabeth under the Act of Supremacy?
The Act of Supremacy required all Churchmen to swear an oath of loyalty to their new supreme governor. To make sure that the change of leadership was truly being accepted at a parish level, commissioners were sent out to investigate and a new court was established to prosecute those whose loyalty was suspect.
- Enhanced Elizabeth’s Royal Authority and exercised punishment for those who opposed the new religious settlement.
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Legislation - Consolidation of Power
When was the Act of Uniformity?
May 1559
Legislation - Consolidation of power
Describe the Act of Uniformity.
The Act of Uniformity specified the use of a single book of common prayer, which was a modified version of the 1552 Book that was written by Cramner.
Legislation - Consolidation of Power
What were the two modifications made to the Book of Common Prayer in the Act of Uniformity - why was this significant?
The two modifications made to the Book of Common prayer were :
- Variations in the Eucharist belief were possible through both the use of the 1549 and 1552 wording - the wording was ambiguous and therefore gave room for Catholic Belief.
- The Black Rubric, which had been included in the 1552 prayer book to remove the practice of kneeling during the Eucharist was ommitted.
This was significant as it was protestant doctrine but gave room for catholic belief, this way she minimised opposition from catholics.
Legislation - Consolidation of power
What did the Act of Uniformity specify about the appereance of the church - why was this significant?
The Act of Uniformity specified that “such ornaments of the Church and of the ministers thereof” should be those that were in place during the first year of Edward’s reign -in other words befroe the passing of the Act of Uniformity 1549.
E.g protestant communion tables but Catholic artefacts such as crosses can be placed upon them.
Its significance was in that those who drew up the settlement made their wisest move, they judged correctly that most people were less concerned over theological disputes over precisely what went on during the communion service so would accept mildly protestant ideas about worship but would find abrupt changes to the appereance of the church jarring.
Supported by the majority of people.
Consolidation of power
Evaluate the effect of the Settlement on Elizabeth’s consolidation of power.
The Elizabethan Settlement helped to successfully avoid religious conflict as the Catholic concessions and moderate protestant elements of the Settlement were accepted by the majority of people ; she thus successfuly established herself as a popular monarch in the long-term.
However, this does not last as, due to her excommunication in 1570, the religious climate in England becomes unstable and there is increased discontent - long-term problems.
She similarly faced criticism from puritans who wanted stronger reforms - short-term problems.
Consolidation of Power - Legislation
What did the Royal Injunctions of 1559 state? Why was this significant?
The first injunction of 1559 made the protestant character of the settlement clear, it replaced altars with communion tables, ended pilgrimages and emphasised the “suppression of superstition.”
The visitors which enforced these injunctions were handpicked by Cecil and strongly protestant, allowing Elizabeth to impose her royal will across England.
Consolidation of Power - Legislation
What was unique about the 1559 Royal injunctions?
The 1559 Royal Injunctions were unique as they reflected Elizabeth’s personal idiosyncrasies, e.g her disaproval of clerical marriage is evident in the wives of priests needing a certificate of suitability signed by 2 justices of the peace ; shows how Elizabeth was moderate in her own protestant views at the beginning of her reign but was willing to concede.
When was the Act of Thirty Nine Religious Articles passed?
The Act of Thirty Nine Religious Articles was published in 1563 and was made law in 1571.
Consolidation of Power - Legislation
What did the Act of Thirty Nine Religious Articles do?
The Act of Thirty Nine Articles was an attempt by the Convocation of the Church to produce a definitive statement of what ‘Anglicanism’ meant. It welded together parts from Catholic and Protestant traditions in order to try and please as many different people as possible.
It similarly defined the difference between the Catholic Church and the Church of England and the religious doctrine that it followed.
