Elizabeth: role of the church, Puritan challenge, controversies

Question 1

Two features of role of the church in elizabethan times

Answer 1

charity - had alms houses, gave out food and money to huge amount of poor
education - poor people educated in church, taught reading and a simple understanding of the bible

Question 2

Three reasons for Puritan challenge:

Answer 2

1. disliked religious settlement
2. vestment controversy
3. crucifix controversy

Question 3

why did puritans dislike religious settlement?

Answer 3

puritans were strict protestants who wanted to ‘purify’ the church and get rid of all traces of the catholic faith. They thought that, as a Protestant, Elizabeth should act like one. They didn’t think she should compromise with catholics because protestantism was the one true religion. Explains why puritans were a challenge as they were opposed to her settlement and didn’t support her, which meant she had support from neither the puritans nor the catholics. This could be a threat to her throne

Question 4

what was vestment controversy?

Answer 4

The Vestment Controversy of the 1560s was a serious Puritan challenge to the religious settlement. Puritan priests refused to wear the surplice, a white vestment used by Catholics, which the Royal Injunctions had made compulsory. Elizabeth tolerated this at first, but in 1565 she ordered the Archbishop of Canterbury to ensure that all priests wore the surplice. Those Puritans who still refused lost their jobs or were imprisoned. Walter Strickland (leader of the puritan group) wanted to reform Elizabeth’s new prayer book and ban clergy vestments, but Elizabeth silenced him by closing parliament so his ideas could not be discussed. Shows why Puritans were a challenge because they undermined her and challenged her laws, which could set an example for others to do the same, which was a threat to her throne.

Question 5

what was the crucifix controversy?

Answer 5

crucifix is an image of Jesus on the cross - worn in Catholicism. Puritans thought they should be banned - not protestant. Elizabeth said people could wear them - disagreed with Puritans. Shows why Puritans a challenge as they challenged her over the smallest things, and if they believed her to be too catholic they could revolt and overthrow her

Question 6

what made the puritans an especially dangerous challenge to Elizabeth’s religious settlement?

Answer 6

• many of the Protestant bishops appointed from 1559 supported the Puritans and were in favour of further reforms. However, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker was a moderate who helped Elizabeth to uphold the ‘middle way’ of the religious settlement
• many Puritans had been Marian exiles. While in exile in Protestant parts of Europe, some had come into condtact with the teachings of leading reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin