Elizabethan England / 1559
The Religious Settlement
Elizabeth tried to build a church that Protestant and Catholic subjects could accept.
What To Remember
- The Religious Settlement was Elizabeth's attempt to find a middle way in 1559.
- The Act of Supremacy made Elizabeth Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
- The Act of Uniformity made everyone use the English prayer book and attend church on Sundays and holy days.
What it tried to do
Elizabeth wanted a Protestant church, but she kept some Catholic-looking features so more people could accept it.
The wording about communion was deliberately unclear, which helped her avoid a direct argument about what the sacrament meant.
The result was a church that was officially Protestant but still familiar enough for many people to live with.
How it worked
Priests had to accept the new rules, and people who refused to attend church were classed as recusants.
Royal Injunctions helped enforce the settlement in parish life by telling clergy how worship should look and sound.
Elizabeth's compromise was political as much as religious, because it was designed to reduce rebellion and keep the kingdom together.
Revision Prompt
Why did Elizabeth think a middle way would help?