Elizabeths Religious Settlement

• Elizabeth’s religious settlement (1559) aimed to establish a form of religion that would be acceptable to both Protestants and Catholics
• The Act of Uniformity dictated the appearance of churches and how religious services were to be held. It required everyone to attend church on Sundays and holy days
• The Act of Supremacy made Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. All clergy and royal officials had to swear an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth.
• An Ecclesiastical High Commission was established to keep discipline within the Church and enforce Elizabeth’s religious settlement. Disloyal clergy could be punished
• The Book of Common Prayer (1559) introduced a set church service to be used in all churches. The clergy had to follow the Prayer Book wording during services or be punished.
• Royal Injunctions were set instructions to clergy that held up the Acts of Supremacy and uniformity. It included instructions on how religious services should be conducted and how prayers should be carried out
• The wording of the book of common prayer was made so that different denominations could interpret it in their own way
• The Communion Sacrament referred to in the Book of Common Prayer could be interpreted as the body and blood of Jesus. This would have appealed to Catholics, while Protestants could view it as an act of remembrance.
• • Protestants would have approved of the ban on pilgrimages to ‘fake’ miracles, while Catholics would have approved of the possibility of ‘real’ miracles. (in the book of common prayer)
• Catholics would also have approved of the use of candles, crosses and vestments in church services
• 8000 clergy out of about 10000 accepted the religious settlement
• Many Marian Bishops (Catholic Bishops appointed by Mary Tudor) opposed the settlement and had to be replaced.
• The majority of ordinary people accepted Elizabeth’s religious settlement and attended the church services, even though many of them held on to Catholic beliefs.
• Policies of the Royal Injunctions:

  • Teach royal supremacy
  • Report those not attending church to Privy Council
  • Keep a copy of the Bible in English
  • Priests to wear special Vestments
  • Prevent pilgrimages, especially to 'fake' miracles