Show Menu
Cheatography
  1. Home >
  2. Education >

Elizabethan England Religious Change Timeline Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

Timeline of the Religious change in Elizabethan England

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

Summary of Elizab­ethan Religious Change

Elizabeth I's reign was defined by the establ­ishment and consol­idation of a moderate Protestant Church of England. The Elizab­ethan Religious Settlement sought a middle way between Cathol­icism and radical Protes­tan­tism, but it faced opposition from both sides. Catholics were increa­singly persecuted as potential traitors, while Puritans, who wanted further reforms, also faced repres­sion. By the end of Elizab­eth’s reign, Protes­tantism was firmly establ­ished as the religion of the state, but religious tensions persisted, setting the stage for future conflicts in the Stuart period.

Pre-El­iza­bethan Context

1534
Act of Supremacy – Under Henry VIII, the Church of England is establ­ished, breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church, with the King as its Supreme Head.
1539
Act of Six Articles – Reaffirms tradit­ional Catholic doctrines within the Church of England, signaling a conser­vative turn.
1547
Death of Henry VIII – His son Edward VI, a Protes­tant, ascends the throne, leading to more Protestant reforms.
1549
First Book of Common Prayer – Introduced under Edward VI, this book becomes the standard for worship in the Church of England, emphas­izing Protestant doctrines.
1553
Mary I Becomes Queen – Mary Tudor, a devout Catholic, restores Roman Cathol­icism and persecutes Protes­tants, leading to the Marian Persec­utions.

Elizab­ethan Era Begins

17 November 1558
Elizabeth I Becomes Queen – Elizabeth Tudor ascends the throne, succeeding her half-s­ister Mary I. Her reign marks the beginning of efforts to stabilize the religious divide in England.

1559: Establ­ishment of Religious Settlement

April 1559
Act of Supremacy – Reesta­blishes the Church of England's indepe­ndence from Rome. Elizabeth is declared the "­Supreme Govern­or" of the Church of England, a title designed to appease both Catholics and Protes­tants.
April 1559
Act of Uniformity – Mandates the use of the 1559 Book of Common Prayer in all church services, establ­ishing a moderate form of Protes­tantism as the official religion. Attendance at Anglican services is made compul­sory.
Summer 1559
Royal Injunc­tions – Further enforce the Acts of Supremacy and Unifor­mity, requiring clergy to wear specific vestments, use the Book of Common Prayer, and remove "­sup­ers­tit­iou­s" images from churches.
 

1560s: Consol­idation & Resistance

1560
Geneva Bible is published in England, becoming popular among English Protes­tants and reflecting the influence of Calvinism.
1563
Thirty­-Nine Articles – The Church of England’s doctrines are formalized in the Thirty­-Nine Articles, which define the theolo­gical stance of Anglic­anism, balancing Protestant and some Catholic elements.
1566
Vestiarian Contro­versy – Puritans, who are dissat­isfied with the Elizab­ethan Settle­ment, protest the requir­ement for clergy to wear specific vestments, which they view as too Catholic.

1570s: Catholic Threats

25 February 1570
Papal Bull Regnans in Excelsis – Pope Pius V excomm­uni­cates Elizabeth I and absolves her subjects from allegiance to her, encour­aging Catholic plots against her rule.
1571
Treasons Act – In response to the Papal Bull, this act makes it treason to declare that Elizabeth is not the lawful queen or to call her a heretic. It also makes possession of the Papal Bull a treaso­nable offense.
1571
Ridolfi Plot – A Catholic conspi­racy, led by Roberto di Ridolfi, to overthrow Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. The plot is uncovered, leading to executions of conspi­rators.
1572
Cartwright and Puritanism – Thomas Cartwr­ight, a leading Puritan, argues for a Presby­terian system of church govern­ance, rejecting the hierar­chical structure of the Church of England.

1580s: Intens­ifying Conflicts

1580
Arrival of Jesuits – Jesuits and seminary priests begin to arrive secretly in England to support the Catholic cause, including notable figures like Edmund Campion.
1581
Act to Retain the Queen’s Majesty's Subjects in their Due Obedience – This act increases penalties for recusancy (refusal to attend Anglican services) and makes converting to Cathol­icism treaso­nable.
1583
Throck­morton Plot – Another Catholic plot to depose Elizabeth and place Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne, supported by Spain and the Pope. The plot is uncovered, leading to the execution of Francis Throck­morton.
1584
Bond of Associ­ation – An agreement by Elizab­eth's supporters to execute anyone who attempts to usurp the throne or assass­inate the queen.
1585
Act Against Jesuits and Seminary Priests – This act orders all Jesuits and Catholic priests to leave England within 40 days or face execution. It also makes it a capital offense to harbor priests.
1586
Babington Plot – A Catholic plot to assass­inate Elizabeth and free Mary, Queen of Scots, leading to Mary’s execution in 1587.
 

1588: The Spanish Armada & National Unity

July-A­ugust 1588
Spanish Armada – The failed invasion by Catholic Spain streng­thens national unity and solidifies Elizab­eth’s position as a Protestant monarch defending against Catholic aggres­sion. The defeat is seen as a divine endors­ement of Elizab­eth's rule and the Protestant cause.

1590s: Continued Religious Tensions

1593
Act Against Puritans – The Conven­ticle Act is passed to suppress Puritan meetings outside of the Church of England. This marks the govern­ment's increasing hostility towards non-co­nfo­rmity within Protes­tan­tism.
1595
Lambeth Articles – These Calvin­ist­-le­aning doctrinal statements are issued by Archbishop Whitgift, reinfo­rcing the Protestant nature of the Church of England but also highli­ghting the tension between Calvinists and more moderate Anglicans.
1597-1601
Essex Rebellion – The Earl of Essex’s failed rebellion in 1601, although politi­cally motivated, reflects underlying religious and political discontent at the end of Elizab­eth's reign.

End of the Elizab­ethan Era & Legacy

1601
Poor Law Act – While not directly religious, this act reflects the Elizab­ethan govern­ment's concern with social stability, influenced by the Protestant ethic of work and charity.
1603
Death of Elizabeth I – Elizabeth dies on March 24, 1603. Her death marks the end of the Tudor dynasty and the Elizab­ethan era, but her religious policies leave a lasting legacy in the establ­ishment of a Protestant England.

Post-E­liz­abethan Develo­pments

1604
Hampton Court Conference – Under James I, the conference attempts to address Puritan grieva­nces, leading to the commis­sioning of the King James Bible in 1611.
1605
Gunpowder Plot – A Catholic conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill James I, further entren­ching anti-C­atholic sentiment in England.