Elizabethan+Religion

Destiny Poole pd. 8

//** Elizabethan Religion **//
“The 16th century was a time of bitter religious divisions” (Chrisp 10). “In 1534, Henery VIII broke with the Catholic Church and declared himself head of an Anglican, or English church” (Chrisp 10). “Under his son Edward VI the Anglican Church became Protestant” (Chrisp 10). Life was tough; sometimes the poor often went without food. Disease grew throughout all Of England. Most women died giving childbirth. Edmund Campion was blamed of treason; he was tortured and killed in 1581 for being Catholic. “The church of England faced critism not only from Catholics but also from anti-Catholic, who believed established church was still too close to catholic practice” (Andrews 7). In England those who held such beliefs were known as Puritans because they wanted to purify the new religion of all traces of Catholicism” (Andrews 7). “They were also often called the Persists” (Andrews 7). “Puritanism was not a distinct religion but a movement within a church of England” (Andrews 7). “ If you were born before 1555 or shortly after your parents were automatically Catholic”. “Until later in the reign, its safe to say your grandparents were Catholic”. “Puritanism is not a separate religion but a Calvinist leaning within the Anglican Church”. “ Being a Roman Catholic is not a crime but there is a fine for not conforming to the established religion; that is, for not going to church on Sunday”. “Every church is a protestant church”. “Paying off the fine doesn’t allow you to have a priest or practice the Catholic faith”. “ There isn’t a legal way for Catholics to practice there ”. “ It’s illegal to be a Catholic priest in England”. “Its very illegal to be a Jesuit”. “Mass is considered a Catholic service only”. “Its illegal to hold or attend one at any time in reign, though punishment varies”. People of high rank of less likely to get in trouble”. “ Older people may still refer to the service as a mass, but its politically touchy”.



Works Cited Andrews, John F. “Religion.” //Shakespere’s World and Work//. Print. //Anglican Church//. N.d. //Preserving St. Croix’s Heritage since 1948//. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. Chrisp, Peter. //Eyewitness Shakespeare//. London: DK, 2001-2004. Print. “Religion.” //Life in Elizabethan England//. N.p., 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2010.