Elizabethan England / 1558-1603
Catholics and Protestants
Religious difference shaped nearly every major problem Elizabeth faced.
What To Remember
- Catholics followed the Pope, used Latin, and believed the mass was a miracle of communion.
- Protestants wanted plain worship, English Bible and prayer books, and less hierarchy in the church.
- Elizabeth tried to avoid open conflict by keeping a Protestant church that many Catholics could still live with.
Catholic beliefs
The Pope was the head of the church, so Catholics owed him spiritual loyalty as well as loyalty to their ruler.
Worship could include decoration, priests in special clothing, images, and the miracle of communion.
Catholics did not want the church to be reformed too far because they saw those older traditions as part of true religion.
Protestant beliefs
Protestants wanted worship to be simple and understood by everyone, not controlled by priests in Latin.
They wanted the Bible and prayer books in English and rejected some older Catholic traditions such as elaborate church decoration.
Elizabeth sat between these two positions by keeping a Protestant church with some familiar features.
Revision Prompt
What were the biggest differences between Catholics and Protestants?