Elizabeth was a Protestant queen taking over a country that was still largely Catholic
Religion was central to life in England
Religious teaching and practices guided people's morals and behaviour as well as their understanding of the world
Birth, marriage and death were all marked by religious ceremonies
People believed that going to church, attending pilgrimages and confessing sins reduced time in Purgatory where the soul was purged of sin using spiritual fire' before reaching heaven
Religious festivals (holy days), such as St Swithin's Day (15 July) and Lammas Day (2 August), marked the agricultural year and were seen as essential to a good harvest
The Reformation
Divided the Christian Church between Catholics and Protestants from 1517
The north of England, especially Durham, Yorkshire and Lancashire, remained largely Catholic
Protestants tended to be found in northern Europe, especially in the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Germany
Since the 1530s, many Protestants fleeing persecution in Europe had landed in England, setting in London, East Anglia and Kent
The number of English Protestants was growing
Puritans
Strict Protestants who wanted to purify the Christian religion by getting rid of anything not in the Bible
Differences between Catholicism, Protestantism and Puritanism
Beliefs
Practices
Catholics were the majority in north and west England
Protestants were mostly found in south-east England (London, Kent, East Anglia)
