Regardless of the Elizabethan Era, religion was always an important factor in Europe. During the Elizabethan Era and still, Christianity as a religion has two subdivisions depending on the different beliefs. These subdivisions are the Roman Catholics and the Protestants. It is believed that during the 16th century, religion was so important that it played an integral role in holding the entire society together. However, in the later years and somewhat even in the present, religion acts like a vehicle which is used to extend and also to consolidate to political power.
Politics Based on Roman Catholic versus Protestant
Due to the factions of Christianity, that is, the two different subdivisions on Christianity, it was becoming difficult for the people of England and definitely confusing as to which division of Christianity to follow. Both had different beliefs and ideas. At the very least, there were chances that this confusion amongst people could lead to civil unrest. In 1558, Protestant and Roman Catholics started wrangling as to who will yield the political power in England. This happened in the same year when Elizabeth I took over the throne of England.
Since Elizabeth I ascended the throne, her first step as the Queen, was to establish Protestantism as the official religion which will be followed. However, she didn’t discourage Roman Catholics at the same time. Elizabeth I believed that people should be given the freedom to choose in what they will believe. But, this will be applicable only till then up to which Roman Catholics will keep their religion at a private level and will also be prepared always to attend the parish churches which belonged to them. Thus, this leads to no outrage between the two different beliefs under the same religion. It was also seen that many Roman Catholics used to worship along with their neighbours who were Protestants.
Then came Pope Pius V and in 1570. It was in 1570, that Pope Pius formally for bided the Roman Catholics and the Protestants to worship together. Not only did he forbid the worship of both the factions together, he also raised an alarm against Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth was the daughter to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (second wife of Henry VIII). Due to this, Pope Pius announced that the marriage between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, parents of Elizabeth I was not legal. Thus, Elizabeth I also doesn’t become the rightful ascend of the throne and should relinquish the throne and be excommunicated formally.
Immediately after this, there were settlements based on religious grounds made between the Romans and the Geneva. This was done in order to minimize the level of bloodshed due to the religious factor in the dominions of Queen Elizabeth I. In 1559, finally, the Parliament was summoned. This lead to the consideration of the reformation bill and also lead to the recreation of England’s independent church.
Catholicism During the Elizabethan Era
In 1536, Henry VIII, the king got divorced with Catherine who was from Aragon. This also lead to a split amongst the church of England. This split further made two different religious authorities. The first was the Church of England and the second was the Catholicism’s reformed form, that is, Anglicanism. When there was a settlement of the religious grounds relating to Elizabeth I, an improved version of the Anglicanism was brought forward. This was done through two acts passed by the Parliament of England.
The two acts were passed in 1559 and they were the Act of Supremacy, 1559 and the Act of Uniformity, 1599. The Act of Supremacy, 1599 stated that there will be re-establishment of the Church of England and it will be totally independent of Rome. It also conferred a title to the same which read, “Supreme Governor of the Church of England” and was on Elizabeth. The Act of Uniformity, 1599 stated that there will be the establishment of the Book of Common Prayer.
Religious Facts of the Elizabethan Era
The convocation of Clergy, which was under Elizabeth I had adopted the Forty Two Articles of Anglican Doctrine, which was written by Thomas Cranmer, in 1552. This led to the formation of the Thirty Nine Articles in 1563. This was accepted by many masses, the majority of it, but still led to the rise of many enemies for the Church of England. Anglicanism was not only secured by the law, but it was also approved by the Parliament. All the Roman Catholic bishops, who were not imprisoned and continued in recognising the papal supremacy, gave their vote against the proposal. However, it was a very narrow margin for which the establishment of the Anglicanism could be passed.
Puritans were a group of Protestant who were militants. They had the aim of cleaning the church from the influences of the papal and wanted to have a strong establishment of the bible. Thus, the Puritans also refused in accepting and following any rituals which were in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer.
