Queen, government, and religion 1558-69: The Religious Settlement

Question 1

Reasons Religion was important in Elizabethan England

Answer 1

• Religion central to life in England, Religious teaching and practices guided morals and behaviour as well as understanding world. Birth, marraige,a nd death marked by religion
• Believed going to church, attending pilgrimages, confessing sins reduced time in purgatory where soul purged of sin in ‘spiritual fire’ before reaching heaven
• Religious Festivals, like St Swithin’s day and Lammas day marked agricultural year, seen as essential for good harvest

Question 2

Religious divisions in England and Europe 16th century

Answer 2

• Protestants found in northern Europe: Netherlands, Scandinavia, Germany
• Since 1530s protestants fleed to England settling London, East Anglia, and Kent. number of English protestants growing
• Some became Puritans- wanted to purify church of anything not in bible
• North of England: Durham, Yorkshire, Lancashire remained catholic
• Reformation divided church between protestants and catholics from 1517

Question 3

Catholic (‘old religion’) Beliefs

Answer 3

• Pope is head of church helped by cardinals, bishops, & Priests
• Church intermediary between God and people, can forgive sins
• During mass bread and wine literally become body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation)
• 7 Sacraments (ceremonies)
• Priests celibate

Question 4

Catholic (‘old religion’) Practices

Answer 4

• Services in latin
• Priests wear vestments
• Churches highly decorated

Question 5

Catholic (‘old religion’) support

Answer 5

Catholic majority in North and West of England

Question 6

protestants (‘new religion’) Beliefs

Answer 6

• No pope, archbishops and bishops may be necessary
• Personal direct relationship with God through bible and prayer, Only God forgives sins
• Bread and Wine represent Body and Blood of Christ, no miracle
• 2 sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion
• Priests can marry

Question 7

Protestants (‘new religion’) Practices

Answer 7

• Services in English
• Priests wear simple vestments
• Churches plain and simple

Question 8

Protestants (‘new religion’) Support

Answer 8

Mostly South-East England (London, Kent, East Anglia)

Question 9

Puritans (strict protestants) Beliefs

Answer 9

• No Popes, cardinals or bishops
• Personal direct relationship with God through bible and prayer, Only God forgives sins
• Bread and Wine represent Body and Blood of Christ, no miracle
• 2 sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion
• Priests can marry

Question 10

Puritans (strict protestants) Practices

Answer 10

• Services in English
• Priests wear simple vestments
• Churches whitewashed with no decoration

Question 11

Puritans (strict protestants) Support

Answer 11

Puritans found in London and East Anglia

Question 12

Key features of Elizabeth’s Religious settlement

Answer 12

1559
* Act of Uniformity: dictated appearance of churches and how services held, required everyone to attend.
* The Act of Supremacy: Elizabeth became Supreme Governor of Church of England. All Clergy and royal officials swear oath of allegiance to her
* The Royal Injunctions: Set of instruction to clergy reinforcing Act of Supremacy and Uniformity. included instructions on worship and how services held.
* Ecclesiastical High Commission established to keep discipline and enforce settlement. Disloyal Clergy punished
* Book of common prayer 1559 introduced set church service, clergy had to follow wording during services or be punished

Question 13

Aims of religious settlement

Answer 13

• designed to be inclusive with wording in book of prayer deliberately ambiguous
• Communion sacrament could be interpreted as transubstantiation or remembrance
• Protestants would improve of ban on pilgrimages to ‘fake’ miracles whereas catholics would like possibility of ‘real’ miracles
• Catholics approved use of candles, crosses and vestments

Question 14

Impacts of Religious Settlement

Answer 14

• 8000/10000 clergy accepted
• Many Marian (appointed by Mary Tudor) bishops opposed and had to be replaced
• Majority of ordinary people accepted and attended though many held on to catholicism

Question 15

The Royal Injunctions

Answer 15

Stated Clergy were required to:
* Teach Royal Supremacy
* report those refusing to attend church to Privy Council- absentees fined weeks wages
* Keep copy of English Bible
* Have government license to preach
* Prevent pilgrimages, religious shrines, and monuments to ‘fake’ miracles
* wear special clothes (vestments)

Question 16

Role of Church of England in society

Answer 16

• Preached governments message- Preachers needed license so if didn’t promote government message license could be revoked
• Provided guidance- helped people in times of uncertainty and hardship
• Responsible for church courts- dealt with marraige, sexual offences, slander, wills and inheritance
• Visitations- bishops carried out inspections of churches and clergy every 3-4 years, checked licences of physicians, midwives and surgeons as well
• legitimised Elizabeth’s rule- encouraged loyalty
• Enforced Religious settlement 1559

Question 17

Role of Parish clergy in village life

Answer 17

• The clergyman major figure in village, conducted church services including baptisms, weddings, and funerals
• Offered spiritual and practical guidance especially in hardship
• Funded by taxes, tithes, gentry’s funding, or other sources such as sale of church pews.

Question 18

Role of Parish Clergy in Town life

Answer 18

• Parish churches in towns delt with wider range of people and religious beliefs especially in London
• Role of clergy varied in towns and between them, in London various parishes existed, some wealthy others poor
• Due to overcrowding wider range of issues including poverty, vagrancy, and diseases, such as smallpox and plague.