Role of the church Flashcards
2 roles of the church
- enforced Elizabeth religious settlement
- provided guidance for communities especially in times of uncertainty and hardship
2 roles of the church
- legitimatised Elizabeth’s role as church encouraged support for the monarch rather than rebelling against the monarch
- responsible for church courts - dealt with things like marriage
Vestment controversy - puritan challenge
Elizabeth wanted the clergy to wear special vestments as described in royal injunction. puritans resisted this arguing clergy should wear no vestments or simple vestments. 1566 Mathew Hopkins the archbishop of Canterbury invited 110 priests, with 37 refusing to attend-they lost their posts.
crucifix controversy - puritan challenge
The main areas that puritans disagreed with were the allowance of crucifixes and vestments.
The crucifix shows Jesus dying on the cross. For many it is an important religious symbol. For puritans, it was an icon and as such ought not to be permitted. Elizabeth wanted the crucifix to be included in all churches. It would go some way towards getting Roman Catholics to support her settlement. However, Puritan bishops threatened to resign if the crucifix was imposed. Due to the number of bishops and the lack of suitable replacements, Elizabeth had to remove the imposition of the crucifix from the Settlement.
