Elizabeth I - Puritans
Why did Puritanism develop in Elizabethan England?
Who were the Puritans?
- Prots who criticised Church Settlement
- Some merely disliked certain aspects of RI’s or 39 articles. Others critical of church structure
- Could be described as someone who did not regard the Church Settlement as the final reform of the Church
- Came from educated elements of society
- Important influence in 1560’s and 1570’s
- Believed in the eradication of ‘popish superstition’. Wanted a ‘godly’ or ‘pure’ church stripped of all
unnecessary ceremonial. Placed great emphasis on studying the Bible and preaching. Accepted calvinist
views on predestination. Traditional in their views on economic matters.
- Convocation of Canterbury 1563 - emergence to go further in the reform of the Church
- Some groups within the broader Puritan framework certainly posed a challenge to the Elizabethan
settlement. By end of reign, puritanism was strongest in London, the South and the Midlands. Weakest in
North and Wales.
When did Puritans begin to criticise the Church Settlement?
- From the queen’s perspective the state of religion in 1563 was broadly positive.
- Settlement achieved
- Much concern among both high and lower clergy regarding the apparently unreformed nature of the Church.
- Catholics found it difficult to practise their faith in public
- Key issue - whether the settlement was to be regarded as ‘complete’ or whether there was scope for further
change.
- Against this background, Puritanism emerged amongst those who considered the settlement incomplete.
- Unhappy about certain aspects of acts of supremacy and uniformity in 1559
- Dissatisfaction among Puritans surfaced in at Convocation in 1563 during production of 39 articles - puritans
attempted to include in these articles the reduction of holy days, the end of the use of the sign of the cross at
baptism and a simplification of the vestments worn by a parson. These proposals were defeated by one vote.
First major conflict with the government occurred in 1566 over the wearing of vestments.
The Vestiarian Controversy
- Elizabeth desired conformity and obedience based on complete acceptance of the settlement. 1566 - AB of
Canterbury Matthew Parker, issued his Book of Advertisements - designed to ensure conformity of practice
within CofE. dealt with variety of matters such as preaching licences but main issue was the vestments worn
by clergy.
- Puritans believed in the eradication of ‘superstitious practices’.
- The emergence of tensions between Elizabeth and the Puritans led to the Vestiarian Controversy.
- Several figures within the Church decided that they could not obey the rules on clerical dress laid down in the
Act of Uniformity and royal injunctions as this specified the wearing of Catholic and therefore ‘superstitious’
dress. Opposition had influential supporters. 2 heads of Oxford colleges - laurence humphrey of magdalen
and thomas sampson of christ church. Continental reformers - martin bucer and peter martyr. All regarded
anglican vestments as too similar to catholic vestments.
- Queen dismissed the prominent Oxford academic Thomas Sampson from his post at Christ Church College
for his refusal to wear the required westments
- Archbishop Parker and five bishops issued the ‘Advertisements’ in March in 1566 which required clergy to
follow ‘one uniformity of rites and manners’ in the administration of the sacraments and ‘one decent
behaviour in their outward apparel’.
- Parker insisted they wear a surplice and the clope. All anglican clergy asked to make a pledge to conform -
Why did Puritanism develop in Elizabethan England?
Who were the Puritans?
- Prots who criticised Church Settlement
- Some merely disliked certain aspects of RI’s or 39 articles. Others critical of church structure
- Could be described as someone who did not regard the Church Settlement as the final reform of the Church
- Came from educated elements of society
- Important influence in 1560’s and 1570’s
- Believed in the eradication of ‘popish superstition’. Wanted a ‘godly’ or ‘pure’ church stripped of all
unnecessary ceremonial. Placed great emphasis on studying the Bible and preaching. Accepted calvinist
views on predestination. Traditional in their views on economic matters.
- Convocation of Canterbury 1563 - emergence to go further in the reform of the Church
- Some groups within the broader Puritan framework certainly posed a challenge to the Elizabethan
settlement. By end of reign, puritanism was strongest in London, the South and the Midlands. Weakest in
North and Wales.
When did Puritans begin to criticise the Church Settlement?
- From the queen’s perspective the state of religion in 1563 was broadly positive.
- Settlement achieved
- Much concern among both high and lower clergy regarding the apparently unreformed nature of the Church.
- Catholics found it difficult to practise their faith in public
- Key issue - whether the settlement was to be regarded as ‘complete’ or whether there was scope for further
change.
- Against this background, Puritanism emerged amongst those who considered the settlement incomplete.
- Unhappy about certain aspects of acts of supremacy and uniformity in 1559
- Dissatisfaction among Puritans surfaced in at Convocation in 1563 during production of 39 articles - puritans
attempted to include in these articles the reduction of holy days, the end of the use of the sign of the cross at
baptism and a simplification of the vestments worn by a parson. These proposals were defeated by one vote.
First major conflict with the government occurred in 1566 over the wearing of vestments.
The Vestiarian Controversy
- Elizabeth desired conformity and obedience based on complete acceptance of the settlement. 1566 - AB of
Canterbury Matthew Parker, issued his Book of Advertisements - designed to ensure conformity of practice
within CofE. dealt with variety of matters such as preaching licences but main issue was the vestments worn
by clergy.
- Puritans believed in the eradication of ‘superstitious practices’.
- The emergence of tensions between Elizabeth and the Puritans led to the Vestiarian Controversy.
- Several figures within the Church decided that they could not obey the rules on clerical dress laid down in the
Act of Uniformity and royal injunctions as this specified the wearing of Catholic and therefore ‘superstitious’
dress. Opposition had influential supporters. 2 heads of Oxford colleges - laurence humphrey of magdalen
and thomas sampson of christ church. Continental reformers - martin bucer and peter martyr. All regarded
anglican vestments as too similar to catholic vestments.
- Queen dismissed the prominent Oxford academic Thomas Sampson from his post at Christ Church College
for his refusal to wear the required westments
- Archbishop Parker and five bishops issued the ‘Advertisements’ in March in 1566 which required clergy to
follow ‘one uniformity of rites and manners’ in the administration of the sacraments and ‘one decent
behaviour in their outward apparel’.
- Parker insisted they wear a surplice and the clope. All anglican clergy asked to make a pledge to conform -
