Elizabeth's Archbishops

• Matthew Parker (1559-75)

  • Largely responsible for implementing Elizabeth’s religious settlement
  • Not eye to eye on religious views, remained in office until death
  • Elizabeth disliked clergy marriage, he defended it
  • Initial plan to prevent cleric from living with wife and family in any cathedral or college
  • Unpopular because of him
  • She relented over cathedrals but not colleges
  • Worked well together, put Elizabethan church on a firm foothold
  • Despite their differing opinions; strength of their partnership can be seen as success in early years
• Edmund Grindal (1575-83)

  • Puritan sympathy; push church in Puritan direction irritated her
  • Clashed over ‘prophesyings’
  • Unauthorised meetings for prayer/preaching
  • Concerned Elizabeth
  • Felt preachers wouldn't preach sound doctrine
  • Undermine her church
  • Suspicious of Puritans and their hierarchy dislike
  • 1576
  • Ordered to suppress them
  • He thought them a good for religious instruction
  • He surveyed, 10/15 bishops approved
  • Told queen she had highest political authority but not highest spiritual authority
  • Suspended him from office in 1577 summer until death '83
• John Whitgift (1583-1604)

  • Got on well
  • Shared many of same views and aspirations
  • Also suspicious of Puritans
  • Worked hard to protect Church from Catholics and was unmarried (pleased Elizabeth)
  • She had great comfort from his presence and prayers
  • Remained in office at James I accession and crowed Stuart King at Westminster Abbey
  • Died Feb 1604 and buried in Croydon