Problems with Religion

This section explores the problems with religion under Elizabeth I covering The Religious Settlement, The Act of Supremacy and  The Act of Uniformity. Religion was a significant source of division in England during the reign of Elizabeth I, particularly as Protestant ideas began to challenge the long-established dominance of the Catholic Church in Rome. Elizabeth sought to bridge the divide by offering a 'middle way' that would accommodate both Protestant and Catholic practices, aiming to create a unified religious settlement that could calm the religious turmoil of the previous reigns.

By 1568, Elizabeth's religious settlement had been in place for nearly a decade, marking a period of relative stability after the extremes of her predecessors. Her brother, Edward VI, had pursued an aggressive Protestant agenda, while her sister, Mary I, had been a staunch Catholic who tried to restore papal authority in England, leading to violent conflicts over religion. Elizabeth, recognising the dangers of religious extremism, aimed to avoid these extremes and create a more moderate, balanced approach.

The religion established under Elizabeth was fundamentally Protestant, meaning that English citizens no longer acknowledged the authority of the Pope in Rome. Instead, the English monarch was to be the supreme leader of the Church of England, though not in a spiritual sense. While Elizabeth did not see herself as the spiritual head of the Church, she was the supreme earthly authority. However, her religious settlement maintained certain elements of Catholic practice in order to minimise division. For example, the mass (known in Protestant terms as Holy Communion) continued to be celebrated, and priests still wore traditional vestments during services.

The Religious Settlement

To address the conflicting views of Catholics and Protestants, Elizabeth implemented what came to be known as the Religious Settlement in 1559, a series of laws designed to establish a middle ground. This settlement aimed to combine elements of both Catholicism and Protestantism in a way that would be acceptable to the majority of her subjects. The two key laws that formed the core of the settlement were the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity.

The Act of Supremacy (1559)

The Act of Supremacy declared Elizabeth I as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. While the title of "Supreme Head" was avoided (since Christ was regarded as the true Head of the Church), the Act gave Elizabeth absolute authority over the Church's organisation in England. This law explicitly prohibited any foreign control over the Church, making the Pope’s authority in England illegal. Denying Elizabeth’s position as the head of the Church was considered an act of treason, and anyone who refused to acknowledge her supremacy could be punished.

The Act of Uniformity (1559)

The Act of Uniformity established Protestantism as the official religion of England, but with provisions designed to retain some Catholic traditions. The Act set out the specific forms of worship and religious practices that were to be followed by the Church of England. It required the use of a new prayer book, which combined Protestant ideas with some Catholic rituals, in an attempt to accommodate both sides of the religious divide. The mass was retained, though it was redefined in a Protestant manner, and church services were to be conducted in English rather than Latin. This balance of Protestant doctrines with some Catholic elements was intended to appeal to a broad range of people and avoid alienating any significant group.

Reactions to the Settlement

Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement was generally well-received by the majority of her subjects. Most people accepted the laws and took the oath of loyalty to the queen, recognising her authority over the Church of England. Elizabeth’s moderate approach was seen as a compromise that could bring peace to the country after years of religious conflict. In fact, by the end of the 1560s, many people had grown accustomed to the settlement, and open resistance was rare.

However, despite this broad support, Elizabeth’s religious settlement did not satisfy everyone. While Catholics were unhappy with the rejection of papal authority, the settlement also faced opposition from more radical Protestants, known as Puritans. Puritans were dissatisfied with any retention of Catholic practices, such as the celebration of the mass or the use of vestments by priests. They wanted a more austere, stripped-down form of worship that was entirely free from any Catholic influence. These Puritans pushed for further reform, and some even sought to remove Elizabeth from the throne, believing that she had not gone far enough in rooting out Catholicism.

Thus, while the Religious Settlement succeeded in creating a more stable religious environment in England, it did not completely resolve the divisions in society. Elizabeth’s 'middle way' remained a source of tension, with Catholics and Puritans both continuing to challenge her religious policies. Despite this, the Settlement helped to preserve peace in a time of significant religious upheaval, even if it could not entirely eliminate religious conflict.