THE RELIGIOUS SETTLEMENT, 1559

• ROLE OF THE CHURCH

  • Church courts - made decisions on matters such as marriage and slander
  • Reinforced the Monarch's power - Enforced the Monarch's new laws and the Church's support increased the legitimacy of the Monarch
  • Gave guidance to its community - people went to the Church for advice and the poor went to the Church for support
• ACT OF SUPREMACY + IMPACT

  • Elizabeth named herself the Supreme Governor of the Church of England - Some Catholics accepted this phrasing as they could still believe the Pope was the Head of the Church
  • All government officials and clergy had to take an oath accepting Elizabeth's authority as Supreme Governor - Only one of Mary’s Catholic bishops agreed to take the oath
  • The Act created an Ecclesiastical High Commission. They ensured that churches were following Elizabeth's Religious Settlement - Catholic clergy could lose their jobs or be imprisoned for breaking the terms of the settlement.
• ACT OF UNIFORMITY - all churches looked the same

  • Churches were allowed to have decorations and sing hymns - Catholics were happy, Puritans complained that churches looked too Catholic.
  • Bible and Church services were conducted in English. New P prayer book - The wording of the prayer book was deliberately unclear, C and P could interpret it in their own way. Refusing to use the new prayer book resulted in punishment
  • Priests could marry and had to wear special vestments - many priests accepted these changes however puritan clergy didn't believe in wearing special vestments.
• ACT OF UNIFORMITY

  • Everyone had to attend church on Sundays and on holy days. Recusants received a one-shilling fine for every absence - Many higher-class Catholics chose to pay the one-shilling fine rather than attend a Church of England service. Many lower-class Catholics could not afford to miss church services
• ROYAL INJUNCTIONS

  • Requirement for the clergy to teach that the Queen was in charge of the Church - Many clergy accepted this practice
  • The PC received information about anyone who refused to attend church - Many Catholics decided to publicly show loyalty to the Church of England.
  • Priests needed a licence to preach - clergy accepted the gov monitoring their practices, they had to show their licence to officials
  • Banning of pilgrimages and 'fake miracle' worships - C could interpret this to mean that there were real miracles. P and Puritans disapproved of the practice of worshipping idols