When Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558 her people were divided by religion
Elizabeth's sister, Mary, had made Roman Catholicism the official religion of the country, but many of the people were Protestant - There was also a growing number of Puritans - Elizabeth had to find a compromise.
To try to bring together different groups and ease religious tensions, Elizabeth came up with what became known as the Religious Settlement . In 1559 she passed two laws:
Act of Supremacy
Act of Uniformity
Act of Supremacy
This made Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of the Church, taking power away from the Catholic Pope in Rome.
Her father, Henry VIII, had done the same in his reign, but called himself the Head of the Church, so Elizabeth’s title as Governor implied she would not be so dictatorial and would be more tolerant.
This appeased Catholics and Puritans who were uncomfortable with the monarch as head of religion as well as head of state
Act of Uniformity
This made Protestantism England’s official faith
This also set out rules of religious practice and worship in a revised prayer book
This retained some Catholic traditions which Elizabeth hoped would make a good compromise and keep her people happy
There was broad support for the new Settlement and very few refused to take the oath of loyalty to the Queen
Elizabeth’s tolerant approach seemed to have worked on the whole, but it did not keep everyone happy and she faced numerous threats
