The Elizabethan Religious Settlement - Early Elizabethan England 1558-88

Question 1

Why did the Reformation happen in Europe?

Answer 1

The Reformation, which began in Europe, happened because a growing number of people believed the Roman Catholic Church had become corrupt, greedy and no longer represented a true Christian life; it needed to be reformed. This led to some people renowned as protestants, abandoning the Roman Catholic Church faith altogether and established their own churches, without the Pope. Began in 1517 from Martin Luther

Question 2

How did the reformation have such a massive impact on Europe?

Answer 2

The reformation has such a massive impact on Europe as by 1558, it tore Europe apart as beliefs that had been held for centuries were challenged and this threatened to overturn established social and political hierarchies

Question 3

Why were there major divisions in England?

Answer 3

Previous monarchs - Henry and Edward were Protestants whilst Mary was Catholic, this caused many divisions
English Catholics - felt that Elizabeth was illegitamate and that Mary Queen of Scots was a lawful queen
The clergy - Most Bishops were Catholic
Geography - Large parts of north and west were Catholic, South East tended to be protestant
Puritans - Radical protestants who wanted to ‘purify’ Christianity

Question 4

What did Elizabeth want to do in terms of religion in her early years?

Answer 4

• Elizabeth wanted to find a compromise when it came to religion - sometimes called the Elizabeth ‘middle way’
• She wanted to establish a form of Protestantism that Catholics could accept

Question 5

What became established in 1559 to help with the religious settlements?

Answer 5

• The Act of Supremacy
• The Act of Uniformity
• The Royal Injunctions

Question 6

What was the Act of Supremacy?

Answer 6

Made Elizabeth the suprememe government of the Church of England - all clergy and royal officials had to swear an oath of allegiance to her as the head of church

Question 7

What was the Act of Uniformity?

Answer 7

Established the appearance of churches and the form of services they held

Question 8

What were the Royal Injunctions?

Answer 8

Set of instructions, issued by Sir William Cecil on behalf of the queen to the clergy, on a wide range of issues to reinforce the Acts Of Supremacy and Uniformity. It included instructions on how people should worship God and the structure of services

Question 9

What were ways Elizabeth tried to please Protestants?

Answer 9

• Bible is in English
• Monarch was the Head of the Church
• Pilgramage was banned

Question 10

What were ways Elizabeth tried to please Catholics?

Answer 10

• The Puritans were valued out as she didn’t want her Catholic Subiects to go against her
• The Act of Unifornity made it so they can still acknowledge the Bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ
• Priests can still wear special clothing
• Images were allowed

Question 11

What were the successes of the Elizabeathan religious settlement?

Answer 11

• 8000 priests took the oath of supremacy
• She was able to replace bishops with protestants
• Majority of ordinary people accepted it
• New prayer book was a success

Question 12

What were the failures of the Elizabeathen religious settlement?

Answer 12

• 2000 didn’t take the oath of supremacy
• Only one bishop took the oath
• Some areas slow on changes (e.g Lancashire)
• Destruction of statues and ornaments in Churches in London
• Many Catholics still held private services in their homes