Topic 4 - The Problem Of Religion

Question 1

Name 3 reasons why Elizabeth created a religious settlement.

Answer 1

• There was lots of religious turbulence since Henry VIII and the Protestant reformation.
• By 1559, more than 50% of England’s population were Protestant.
• Elizabeth was Protestant herself. She believed in having a united country + not persecuting people for their beliefs.

Question 2

Name 3 things she had to consider when creating her religious settlement.

Answer 2

• Mary queen of Scots was viewed as the rightful catholic heir to the English throne + married the french king.
• King Phillip II was a devoted catholic.
• She had to keep the pope on side - if he chose to excommunicate Elizabeth, this may cause catholic uprisings against her.

Question 3

1. What was the official religion of Elizabeth’s religious settlement?
2. Name 3 catholic elements of Elizabeth’s religious settlement.
3. Name 3 Protestant elements of Elizabeth’s religious settlement.

Answer 3

• Elizabeth created a church that reflected both Protestant and Actholic practices.
• Protestantism was the official religion.

Catholic elements:
- Ornaments and decorations were allowed
- clergy had to wear vestments.
- Archbishops and cathedrals remained.

Protestant elements:
- Priests allowed to marry
- A new English prayer book and bible was introduced.
- Church services were in English

Question 4

When was the act of supremacy passed?
What did it do?

Answer 4

1. 1229
2. It made Elizabeth ‘supreme governor of the church of England’.
   All important officials had to swear an oath of loyalty to Elizabeth’s new title. Failure to do so resulted in imprisonment.
3. The term ‘supreme governor’ was actually used to appease catholics, as they could still consider the pope to be the head of the church.

Question 5

When was the act of uniformity passed?
What did it do?

Answer 5

1. 1559
2. The act of uniformity ensured practises and attitudes were the same throughout the country.
   - Protestant book of common parader was to be used in all countries, ornaments and decorations were allowed, clergy had to wear vestments, church services had to be in English.

Question 6

When did everybody have to attend church?
What were the people that didn’t attend church called? What was the consequence?

Answer 6

1. Everyone had to attend church on Sundays and Holy days.
2. People that refused to attend church were called recusants.
3. Recusants had to pay a fine of 1 shilling.

Question 7

What happened to the monasteries founded by Mary I?

Answer 7

They closed down and the wealth was passed to the crown.

Question 8

What were the Royal Injunctions?
When were they passed?

Answer 8

1. The royal injunctions provided a set of instructions to the clergy to establish authority.
2. The 9 orders included teaching the royal supremacy and denouncing papal authority.
3. 125 commissioners were appointed to check the rules were enforced.
4. It was passed in 1559

Question 9

What was the act of exchange?
When was it passed?

Answer 9

1. The act of exchange was passed in 1559
2. The act of exchange passed land from the church to the crown.
   - Elizabeth could force bishops to rent or grant land to her nobility.

Question 10

What were the 39 articles?

Answer 10

The 39 articles established the beliefs of the Church of England.

Question 11

Who was in charge of the daily running of the church?

Answer 11

The Episcopate

Question 12

How did people react to the religious settlement?
- At home
- Abroad

Answer 12

1. At home most people accepted the religious settlement. Only 250 priests refused to accept the changes and were dismissed.
2. Abroad, foreign reactions were muted.
   - France was distracted by a civil war.
   - King Phillip II wanted friendship with England. He was not critical as he hoped changes would be reversed over time.
   - The pope was not critical as he hoped changes would be reversed over time.