The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was a response to the religious divisions present across England after the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I.
Context:
Henry VIII: - Henry VIII excommunicated himself and England from the Pope to allow himself to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, beginning with the Act of Restraints in Annates in 1532 (Annates were the primary source of income in Rome from England). - The break with Rome severely limited the Pope's power in England. In November 1534 Henry declared himself as Supreme head of the Church using the Act of Supremacy. Edward VI: - Edward promoted Protestantism under the guidance of his uncle Edward Seymour and Thomas Cranmer. The Act of Uniformity in 1549 created an English Prayer Book which received heavy hatred as shown by the rebellions that followed. - John Dudley took over the unofficial role of Protector due to Edward's age, however this did not stop the Protestant reforms. A second Prayer Book was published in 1552 which contained strong Protestant influences. Catholic imagery and alters were vandalised. |
Mary I:
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