Religion and divisions (S1.4) Flashcards
(41 cards)
What was the Reformation, in terms of its importance on Britain?
The British Isles divided along confessional lines following the Henrician Reformation in the 1530s.
> England and Wales established the Church of England (became predominantly Protestant).
> Scotland also became Protestant.
> Ireland remained Catholic.
The Church of England was governed by the monarchy.
> The great powers of the continent, Spain and France, remained Catholic and increasingly sought to combat the growth of Protestantism.
How was religion deeply intertwined with political authority?
- The Church of England upheld the monarchy’s supremacy, as the King was the Supreme Governer
- Church was hierarchachal, mirroring societal structures
What was the basis of James’ religious policy, and what was his religion?
James was a moderate Protestant
> Willing to adopt the 1559 Religious Settlement
> Appreciated a hierarchical structure (with bishops) for the Church
> Wanted unity, harmony and a common home for Catholics and Puritans
What were the five main religious groups in England and Scotland?
Presbyterianism
Puritanism
Calvinism
Arminianism
Catholicism
What was Calvinism, and what were the main beliefs?
Protestant
> Monarchacial, hierarchical (with bishops)
> Vestments, communion, English bible, decorated buildings
> Salvation through faith
What was Presbyterianism, and what were the main beliefs?
Protestant
> Majority in Scotland
> Not monarchacial or hierarchical
> Plain dress, sermons, English bible, plain building
> Salvation through predestination
What was Puritanism, and what were the main beliefs?
Protestant
> Important minority within England
> Monarchacial and hierarchical
> Plain dress, sermons, English bible, plain building
> Salvation through predestination
What was Arminianism, and what were the main beliefs?
Protestant
> Monarchacial, hierarchical (with bishops)
> Vestments, communion, English bible, decorated buildings
> Salvation through works and God’s help
What was Catholicism, and what were the main beliefs?
Catholic
> Minority in England; majority in Ireland
> Pope as head, with cardinals and bishops (hierarchical)
> Vestments; latin mass with latin bible; decorated church
> Salvation through faith and works
What legislation did the Crown pass against Catholicism between 1603 and 1606?
1603: Collection of recusancy fines
1604: Encouraged legislation against Jesuits
1606: Two severe laws against Catholics passed by Parliament, but James did not fully enforce them.
What happened in 1605, in relation to Catholicism?
Gunpowder Plot of November 1605
> Attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament for a Catholic uprising
What did James pass as a result of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot?
1606 Oath of Allegiance
What was the 1606 Oath of Allegiance?
The 1606 Oath of Allegiance forced Catholic recusants to declare their allegiance to James, and not the Pope.
What did Puritans challenge James with very early on in his reign?
1603 Millenary Petition
What was the 1603 Millenary Petition?
Puritans presented James with a petition signed by 1,000 ministers.
> They respected James’ position as ‘Supreme Governor’, but wished for ‘further Reformation’, and to cleanse it from the remnants of Catholic features
What was demanded in the 1603 Millenary Petition?
- Powerful bishops.
- Ceremonies that ministers were obliged to perform.
- The use of a ‘set’ Prayer Book (ministers were not allowed to write their own).
- They also asked for a new, better translation of the Bible into English, and a simplification of Church services.
What conference met in 1604 to discuss on religion?
1604 Hampton Court Conference
What happened in the 1604 Hampton Court Conference, and what was this a response to?
James invited representatives from across the religious spectrum to a theological debate at Hampton Court in response to the Millenary petition.
> James thrived in intellectual debate, and enjoyed the Hampton Court Conference.
What were the consequences of the 1603 Millenary Petition and 1604 Hampton Court Conference?
James did not want to make any changes to the Church which would give ministers independence, which he felt would undermine his ability to control the Church.
What did James not accept, and what did he accept from the 1603 Millenary Petition and 1604 Hampton Court Conference?
James did not accept:
- Reform along Presbyterian lines which would have reduced the power of bishops (he thought the bishops would help him control the Church and thus increase his own authority).
- The abandonment of ceremonies and the Prayer Book (he thought ceremonies enforced hierarchy and the common Prayer Book enforced his idea of obedience to the King).
- ‘No bishop, no king!’ James declared.
- He did, however, agree to a new translation of the Bible.
Who was Richard Bancroft?
The new Archbishop of Canterbury (1604-1610)
> Led a drive for conformity.
What were Bancroft’s Canons?
New Church laws
> Upheld many orthodox practices and liturgies of the Church, as well as practices that had been condemned by Puritans in the Millenary Petition
> James was forced to accept the Puritan’s loyalty following a Puritan petition from Northamptonshire. He allowed for moderate reform after 1606.
Who were the Archbishop of Canterbury’s in the early Stuart period?
Bancroft (1604-1610)
Abbott (1611-1633)
Laud (1633-1645)
What percentage of England was Catholic?
Only 2-5% of the population were Catholic in England, mostly in remote northern or far west of England, i.e. far from London.
But it was the fear of secret Catholics that made some English Protestants hysterical.
It might be the case that there were millions of Catholics pretending to be Protestant, but secretly waiting for an opportunity to overthrow the Anglican Church and violently restore Catholicism.
These people might destroy England from within.
(Plus they might be supported by Spain and or France).
