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Most English people of the time believed that God had brought about the failure of the Spanish Armada to conquer protestant England.

Britain: Elizabethan England - Religion

Religion was a serious problem for Elizabeth I. This GCSE History quiz explores her Religious Settlement, Catholic and Puritan opposition, and how she tried to keep England stable.

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Fascinating Fact:

When Elizabeth I became queen in 1558, England was divided between Catholics and Protestants. Religious conflict had caused unrest under both Henry VIII and Mary I.

In GCSE History, this Elizabethan religion topic explains how Elizabeth I aimed for a “middle way”. You study the Religious Settlement, Catholic and Puritan reactions, and how religion linked to plots and foreign threats.

Key Terms

Religious Settlement: Elizabeth I’s plans in 1559 to organise the Church of England and reduce conflict between Catholics and Protestants.
Act of Supremacy: The law that made Elizabeth I Supreme Governor of the Church of England instead of the Pope.
Recusant: A person, often Catholic, who refused to attend Church of England services and could be fined.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What was Elizabeth I’s Religious Settlement?

Elizabeth I’s Religious Settlement was a set of laws in 1559 that created a Protestant Church of England with English services, but kept some traditional ceremonies to reduce religious tension.

How did Elizabeth deal with Catholics in England?

Elizabeth expected outward obedience. Catholics who missed church could be fined, and after plots such as the Ridolfi Plot, stricter laws were used against priests and those seen as disloyal.

What do I need to revise for Elizabethan England religion GCSE?

Revise the Religious Settlement, key laws like the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, Catholic and Puritan opposition, important plots, and how religion affected foreign policy and control in England.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

What name was given to the argument between Elizabeth and more radical Protestants about the garments that the clergy should wear in church?

The Uniform Controversy

The Vestiarian Controversy

The Robes and Garments Controversy

The Vestments Controversy

Traditionalists believed in bright garb to separate the clergy from the laity, while "the hotter sort of Protestant" wanted drab vestments to stress the clergy's similarity to the laity

2 .

Which Act of Parliament enforced the use of the new Elizabethan Prayer Book?

The Act of Obedience

The Act of Supremacy

The Act of Uniformity

The Act of Enforcement

Elizabeth needed parliamentary authority to compel English people to use the new Prayer Book

3 .

Ridolfi, Babington, Parry. - What did all of these gentlemen have in common?

They were courtiers at Elizabeth's court

They were successive Archbishops of Canterbury

They all had plots named after them against the queen

They all guarded Mary, Queen of Scots, while she was under house arrest in England

Elizabeth attracted the loyalty of many of her subjects, and the hostility of a determined minority

4 .

What name is given to those Catholics who would not accept Elizabeth's religious settlement, and who secretly observed Catholic practices - including the Roman Mass?

Refusers

Heretics

Non-Conformists

Recusants

Fines were levied on such people, which many of them paid regularly, for failing to attend Church of England services weekly

5 .

In which year were Elizabeth's acts of Religious Settlement passed?

1558

1561

1560

1559

Elizabeth was anxious to complete her religious settlement as quickly as possible, but it first had to be passed by the two Houses of Parliament - Commons and Lords

6 .

What was the majority faith of the Irish people?

Roman Catholic

Protestant

Pagan

Presbyterian

Most parts of Ireland (away from Dublin) were pretty much a law unto themselves during the sixteenth century

7 .

"The pretended Queen of England and the servant of crime." - Which international figure made this remark about the queen in a famous document of 1570?

Pope Pius V

The Holy Roman Emperor

King Philip II of Spain

King Charles IX of France

Catholics regarded Elizabeth as a usurper, who should be overthrown and replaced by someone loyal to Rome

8 .

Which title did Elizabeth assume in the Religious Settlement?

Supreme Head of the Church of England

Supreme Governor of the Church of England

Principal Governor of the Church of England

Protector of the Church of England

Henry VIII, Elizabeth's father, broke away from Rome's control in the 1530's, but Elizabeth had to think carefully about the most appropriate form of words for her leadership of the Anglican Church. Yet she certainly had no intention of returning control to the Pope

9 .

What name is usually given to those radical Protestants who wanted a much more rigorous and far-reaching reform of the Church?

Puritans

Anglo-Catholics

Lutherans

Fundamentalists

While Elizabeth wanted a moderate and inclusive settlement, there were many Protestants who saw her accession as a chance to push for more radical reforms

10 .

What principal factor, in the view of most English people, caused the Armada's defeat?

The hand of God

Drake's strategy and skill

Elizabeth I's leadership

Spanish mistakes

Many English people sought one overarching reason for the extraordinary failure of the Spanish invasion attempt

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Elizabeth I

Author: Edward Towne