Elizabethan Religious

Settlement

Archbishop Parker & the Vesitarian Controversy and The Settlement in Action

Archbishop Parker1565 – Elizabeth wrote to Parker, demanding he use his authority to ensure

rites and practices of the church did not deviate from the 1559 settlement.

WHY? Elizabeth wished to defend her settlement

Elizabeth wasn’t prepared to intervene in an administrative matter of church parker was pleased to have religious backing

Effects were to be far reaching….

EFFECTS? Parker published his advertisements 1566 attempt to make a clear

statement of what was expected in terms of doctrine, administration of prayer and clerical dress.

Elizabeth stressed the importance of ideas which would preserve aspects of continuity e.g. traditional fonts for baptism

Issues of clerical vestments – to compromise with the protestant. Settlement 1559 insisted surplice to be worn for services.

Parker’s Fashion Show…

• Parker held a ‘curious fashion parade’ for 110 clergy members at Lambeth Palace. 37 members refused to wear the approved vestments as they were ‘too Catholic,’ these members were removed from their positions. Special vestments reinforced the idea that ordination made the clergy a special caste – an idea central to Catholicism.

Girlfriend, these

vestments are way to

Catholic for me!

Dress Standards Decision about the surplice was made at the monarch’s whim, it was not a

suitable way to regulate church doctrine.

A particular standard of dress was necessary for the preservation of civil order which was within the monarch’s rights to enforce.

Adiaphora – a Protestant theory that certain rites and actions are matters of indifference in religion since not forbidden by the Scriptures. This was accepted by reformers abroad at the time – the concept gained acceptability among Protestants in England.

This led to the 1st movement of Puritans setting up their own separate church which carried suspicion of Anabaptism, which was hated across Europe, and threatened Government and Property.

Anabaptists – were hardline protestants, who believed in adult baptism as opposed to infant baptism. They rejected the idea that the state had a role in religious life, they refused to pay tithes. This was the focus of hostility in Europe.

1567 - Saw the first moves towards a separate Puritan Church, this carried strong fears amongst Government.

Elizabeth didn’t defend the advertisements – she was not prepared to defend an interference by the Bishops in imposing regulations which contradicted her own injunctions.

The Settlement in Action

Elizabeth chose a primarily Catholic model of :

Archbishop Bishops Ministers Worshipers.

The Marian bishops were invited to join a new church, in an attempt to promote continuity but soon after, many of the bishops either left or were sacked.

The 1559 Act of Exchange – this act enabled Elizabeth to exchange religious property she owned. This was in an attempt to deprive the church of considerable wealth, however its initial attempt was to deprive only Marian Bishops of their wealth, in an attempt to force them to cooperate. This act also prevented Bishops from preventing land leases for more than 21 years, which increased the Queen’s patronage.

Archbishop

Ministers Worshipers

Bishops

Protestant Injunctions

Protestant-based injunctions:

• Clergy were to teach the royal supremacy

• Clergy were to challenge the Pope’s usurpation of the right of the monarch government.

• Processions were banned

• Recusants were to be denounced to the Privy Council or to the local J.P.s

• Clergy were allowed to be married

• All churches were to have a copy

of the bible in English.

Catholic Injunctions

Catholic Injunctions:

• Worshipers were to bow at the name of Jesus Christ

• Clergy were required to wear a surplice

• Erasmus's paraphrases were to be kept

in the Church

• Evangelising was not permitted

(unless the preacher held a licence)

How far did Elizabeth act as ‘Mother of the Church of England?’

1562 – Bishop Jewel outlines the Criticisms made by Roman Catholics :

• Church of England was merely a ‘Parliamentary Religion’

• A lay person (Elizabeth) was given the right to make decisions on spiritual matters. (Not true but Catholics believed it)

Jewel defended the Church :

• Old testament Monarchs had served God by protecting their faith, rebuking religious leaders and pointing out their mistakes.

• Queens were the ‘nursing mothers of the faithful.’ Elizabeth could not however influence doctrine.

• Elizabeth was in a uniquely well-placed position to influence and direct the Church; this was acknowledged by supporters & opponents.

How far did Elizabeth act to defend ‘her’ church?

FINANCIAL MATTERS

• Act of Exchange – stripped the Church of financial gain, this made more extreme reluctance of the Bishops to stand up to her demands. Grindel lost his job over it.

• Elizabeth’s demands during the 1570s as financial problems

• Elizabeth took advantage of the Church – all Bishops were required to pay taxes annually to the crown. As a result, many dioceses ended up in debt, Bishops were imprisoned for refusing to pay.

How far did Elizabeth act to defend ‘her’ church?

Elizabeth did interfere with spiritual matters, and usually negatively.

Elizabeth was prepared to sacrifice the Archbishop of Canterbury over a political squabble : he had refused to suppress ‘prophesyings’ – gatherings of clergy to train junior clerics in preaching – which were generally effective.

Elizabeth’s problem was that she feared mass gatherings for fear of subversion.

Elizabeth strove to prevent doctrine being defined too closely – demonstrating her desire to keep the church as inclusive as possible – for Political reasons.

How far did Elizabeth act to defend ‘her’ church?

1563 – Archbishop Parker & Convocation wrote the thirty-nine articles – a definitive state of doctrine. Some articles reflected Calvinist ideas. Eg. Article 17 – ‘sweet comfort of predestination.’

Elizabeth refused to allow Parliament to ratify them – the articles contained attacks on Catholicism, which she was not prepared to allow.

Conclusion… Elizabeth’s support for the Church was limited, and

generally subordinate to the political wishes of the Queen. Defending the Church was an effective way of keeping Elizabeth’s authority enhanced. Elizabeth preferred a Protestant settlement with a traditional Catholic-style hierarchy and traditional dress. For political reasons, Elizabeth let Catholicism die out slowly rather than creating discord and disunity by aggressively stamping it out.

Pin the vestments on the Priest… Now you must try and

place the correct religious vestments on the priest…

Use the handouts you have been given…

You have exactly 3 minutes to complete the task!

Place the vestments on the Priests…