1. What did the Elizabethan Religious Settlement establish in 1559?

2. Learning objective – to be able to define the Elizabethan Religious Settlement of 1559.
I can describe the key features of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement.
Grade 3
I can explain the key features of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement.
Grade 6
I can explain and assess the key features of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement.
Grade 9

3. Starter
Explain this diagram in four bullet points. Each bullet point should be no longer than ten words.

4. What were the aims of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement?
Elizabeth I wanted to find a compromise in establishing a form of Protestantism which Catholics could accept. Elizabeth I wanted to curb the extremism shown by the Puritans. She felt that if the Puritans were allowed to establish their own church it could challenge her authority. It was expected that successful governments would follow the monarch’s religion. Elizabeth I wanted to unite the country. She did not want religious differences to divide the country and lead to rebellion.

5. What was the Elizabethan Religious Settlement?
The Elizabethan Religious Settlement comprised of two acts –
The Act of Supremacy
The Act of Uniformity

6. What did the Act of Supremacy establish?
Elizabeth I as Head of the Church – Elizabeth I became the Supreme Governor of the Church. Protestantism now the official religion of England – The Act of Supremacy reversed Papal Supremacy and England became a Protestant country again. Oath – All clerics and those who worked in government had to swear an oath accepting Elizabeth’s religious authority.

7. What did the Act of Uniformity establish?
Church Services – All had to be in English and use a new Book of Common Prayer which ensured all services were the same in all churches. Church decoration – Decoration was allowed in churches. Vestments – All clerics had to wear set vestments. Attendance – Everyone had to attend church on a Sunday and other holy days. Non-attenders would referred to as recusants and were fined a week’s pay.

8. What did the Royal Injunctions establish?
In 1560, a series of royal injunctions were issued to reinforce the Religious Settlement. The key orders were - All clergy to teach the Royal Supremacy. All preachers had to be licensed Every Church must have an English Bible. Non attenders were to be reported to the Privy Council.

9. What was the reaction and impact of the changes imposed by the Religious Settlement?
Elizabeth as the Supreme Governor – Most people accepted this as Catholics still felt that the Pope was the ‘Head of the Church’. All but one bishop and two thousand priests [out of ten thousand] refused to take the oath of loyalty to Elizabeth’s settlement. 27 bishops stepped down rather than take the oath. Church decoration – By making no immediate changes to the appearance of churches won many people’s approval. However, the Puritans were in discontent and in some Protestant areas, there was the violent removal of church decoration. Church services – Many Catholics detested the omission of the Mass and secretly attended Mass after regular church services. The vagueness and ambiguity of the Prayer Book allowed for flexibility in church services. The Clergy – Because the vast majority of the clergy took the oath of loyalty, many people had the same priest and bishop as before.

10. How did Elizabeth I win support for the Religious Settlement?
Bringing of harmony – Elizabeth portrayed the settlement as brining harmony to England and comparing it to the chaos of Mary’s reign. Also, that the settlement brought the true faith – Protestantism – to England. Imagery – Elizabeth extensively used engravings and medallions of the Queen to give to people to promote her rule. Accession Day – The day that Elizabeth became Queen became a national holiday as part of the Church festival calendar. Licenses – The Clergy were licenced and told what they could preach and what they could not. Attendance – Attendance was compulsory and a test of loyalty to the monarch. Recusants were fined although this was not strictly collected.

11. How did the people react towards the Elizabethan Religious Settlement?
The majority of the population accepted the settlement and attended church despite many still faithful to Catholicism. This was helped by the Common Book of Prayer which was deliberately ambiguous, such as transubstantiation. Although, acts such the Mass were prohibited. At the beginning the settlement wasn’t strictly enforced. The further away from London, the stronger the hold Catholicism was.

12. Task
Explain the following sections of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. Act of Supremacy Act of Uniformity The Royal Injunctions

13. The Bible and church services
Task
Complete the table filling what each religious group felt about different parts of the Religious Settlement.
Catholics
Moderate Protestants
Puritans
Head of the Church
Church decoration
The Bible and church services
The Clergy

14. Extension Task
Complete the extension questions. How did Elizabeth I ensure the Religious Settlement was passed? How did Elizabeth I win support for the Religious Settlement?

15. Plenary
Write one sentence definitions for each picture on how it links to the lesson.
Homework
Complete –
3 links that link 2 pictures together.
3 links that link 3 pictures together.
2 links that link 4 pictures together.