Defining the National Church in England

With the death of Mary in November of 1558 Elizabeth wasted no time in setting her plans for England, or the Elizabethan Settlement, as it latter comes to be known, in motion. Quickly consolidating her power by installing three of her most trusted confidants, namely, William Cecil, Robert Dudley the earl of Leicester, and Nicholas Bacon as chief advisors in her convocation, Elizabeth is able to secure the support needed to pass the Supremacy Act. The first of various acts aimed at restoring the control over the organization and belief system of the church to the state of England, or rather the monarchy, the Supremacy Act destroys the episcopacy with the injection of this clause: "...your highness, your heirs and successor, kings or queens of this realm, shall have full...jurisdictions, privileges, and preeminences, in any wise touching or concerning any spiritual or ecclesiastical jurisdiction," [1] which essentially gives "Elizabeth all the power over the church". [2]

As the recently recognized Supreme Governor of the Church, Elizabeth again wastes no time and quickly moves to have the Second Act of Uniformity ratified. This act, not only requiring everyone to attend church on Sundays [3], also called "that such ornaments of the church, and of the ministers thereof, shall be retained and be in use, as was in the Church of England, by authority of Parliament, in the second year of the reign of King Edward VI." [4] Which in essence meant that the "Book of Common Prayer" would be reinstated, as would certain rules governing the way clergy should act, dress and perform their services. Essentially the Act of Uniformity operated on the idea of adiaphora, the idea that "things unnecessary for salvation could be tolerated," and that "one church could vary from another in ornamentation or liturgy as long as both agreed on the essential doctrines,"[5] thereby creating a loose conformity of the outward ordinances preformed in the church, without defining a specific belief.

This hesitancy to proclaim specific beliefs of the Church, lay in Elizabeth's worry that such a proclamation would ignite civil war, and lead to the internal destruction, not only of the Church, but ultimately the nation. However, with her excommunication from the Catholic Church in 1570, Elizabeth finds herself free of any previous hesitation, and introduces "The 39 Articles of Religion." These articles basically stated that the church would "think Protestant, but look Catholic."[6] The Catholic idea of Purgatory was revoked in article 22 saying that Purgatory was "vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture." [7] In article 19 it makes a distinct break from Rome saying, "the church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of ceremonies, but also in matters of faith." [8]

However, although the 39 articles make an official break with the doctrinal views of the Catholic Church, many Protestants believed that this was not enough, and that the church needed to be purified even further. These Protestants, angry that many aspects of the Church still appeared Catholic, began what is now known as the Vestiarian controversy, a controversy specifically over that fact that bishops and priests were stilled required to dress in the Catholic attire. This controversy, however, was not the only complaint that the Puritan faction had with Elizabeth's newly organized church. There were problems over the outward appearance of the chapels, and also the translation of the "Book of Common Prayer" into Latin by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker, caused contention among the Protestants.

In the end, even with the lasting theological tension that came out of the Elizabethan Settlement, Elizabeth was largely successful in her aim to unify England in one religion, and it is precisely this unification and Elizabeth's ability to remain "firmly moderate" that enabled Britain to begin its edification into an Imperial nation and a world power.

[1] "An Acte Restoring to the Crowne thauncyent Jurisdiction over the state Ecclesiasticall and Spirituall, and the abolishing all Forreine Power repugnant to the same," 1 Eliz. I, c. 1. 4.

[2] Norman Jones, Birth of the Elizabethan Age (Oxford: Blackwell, 1996)

[3] Early Modern England, 118.

[4] "An Acte for the Uniformitie of Common Prayoure and Dyvyne Service in the Churche, and the Administration of the Sacramentes," 1 Eliz I, c. 2, 4.

[5] Norman Jones, Birth of the Elizabethan Age.

[6] Early Modern England, 119.

[7] "The 39 Articles of Religion" at http://web.singnet.com.sg/~kohfly/articles.html, 3.

[8] Ibid, 1.