Write an account of the ways in the which the Puritans challenged the
Elizabethan Church. (8 marks).
The puritans devised a number of methods and ways to challenge the Protestant
Elizabethan Church. The Puritans were Protestants who were unwilling to
compromise how their faith was practised. Puritans had been influenced by a more
extreme group of Protestants like John Calvin. They wished to remove all Catholic
elements from the Elizabethan Church. Puritans studied the Bible and wore plain
clothing and wanted simple religious services. Puritans thought that Elizabeth would
dramatically change the Elizabethan Church they wanted. Instead, they were hugely
disappointed by Elizabeth’s Church settlement.
Early in Elizabeth’s reign, she appointed a number of Bishops to uphold the
Protestant faith but these Bishops had similar views to Puritans. One of the main
areas of contention regarded what they wore. Puritans liked to wear ordinary and
plain clothing but the Bishops wore white gowns or surplice during services.
However, after numerous arguments about clothing Bishops began to accept to wear
what the Puritans wore. After 1666, if the Bishops refused to wear these items of
clothes, they would lose their jobs. Initially, hard-line Puritans were known as
‘Presbyterians’ who used to question Elizabeth’s religious settlement and need for
Bishops. In the 1570s, they began to hold meetings called ‘prophesyings’ to talk
about the Bible. They involved members of the clergy meeting for prayer and
discussion. Also, they criticised the Queen and her religious policies. Despite
Grindal’s position as the Archbishop of Canterbury, he helped to promote and
encourage prophesyings despite Elizabeth and other criticisms. Elizabeth decided to
suspend Grindal as the Archbishop when he refused to support her decision to ban
Prophesyings. Lots of Puritans decided to separate themselves from the mainstream
Elizabethan church and there were lots of attempts to establish new churches.
In 1580, a new separatist church was established in Norwich. Robert Browne was
the leader, however once his church was discovered, he was arrested. Additionally,
in 1592, a second separatist church was established in London and the leaders,
Henry Barrow and John Greenwood, were arrested. But Greenwood and Barrow
were hanged.
Elizabethan Church. (8 marks).
The puritans devised a number of methods and ways to challenge the Protestant
Elizabethan Church. The Puritans were Protestants who were unwilling to
compromise how their faith was practised. Puritans had been influenced by a more
extreme group of Protestants like John Calvin. They wished to remove all Catholic
elements from the Elizabethan Church. Puritans studied the Bible and wore plain
clothing and wanted simple religious services. Puritans thought that Elizabeth would
dramatically change the Elizabethan Church they wanted. Instead, they were hugely
disappointed by Elizabeth’s Church settlement.
Early in Elizabeth’s reign, she appointed a number of Bishops to uphold the
Protestant faith but these Bishops had similar views to Puritans. One of the main
areas of contention regarded what they wore. Puritans liked to wear ordinary and
plain clothing but the Bishops wore white gowns or surplice during services.
However, after numerous arguments about clothing Bishops began to accept to wear
what the Puritans wore. After 1666, if the Bishops refused to wear these items of
clothes, they would lose their jobs. Initially, hard-line Puritans were known as
‘Presbyterians’ who used to question Elizabeth’s religious settlement and need for
Bishops. In the 1570s, they began to hold meetings called ‘prophesyings’ to talk
about the Bible. They involved members of the clergy meeting for prayer and
discussion. Also, they criticised the Queen and her religious policies. Despite
Grindal’s position as the Archbishop of Canterbury, he helped to promote and
encourage prophesyings despite Elizabeth and other criticisms. Elizabeth decided to
suspend Grindal as the Archbishop when he refused to support her decision to ban
Prophesyings. Lots of Puritans decided to separate themselves from the mainstream
Elizabethan church and there were lots of attempts to establish new churches.
In 1580, a new separatist church was established in Norwich. Robert Browne was
the leader, however once his church was discovered, he was arrested. Additionally,
in 1592, a second separatist church was established in London and the leaders,
Henry Barrow and John Greenwood, were arrested. But Greenwood and Barrow
were hanged.
