The Impact of Church Settlement and the Growth of Puritanism

Impact of the Elizabethan Settlement

Following the unpredictable changes under Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I, the Elizabethan Settlement in 1559 aimed to establish religious stability in England.
Elizabeth l opted for a moderate, inclusive form of Protestantism with the aim of pleasing as many of her subjects as possible. This new church was essentially Anglican, keeping some Catholic elements, but its doctrines were broadly reformed.
The state achieved some measure of religious uniformity through the Act of Uniformity. Introduced in 1558, the Act required attendance at parish church (the Church of England) and prohibited the conducting of services in Latin or using the Catholic mass.
The effects of the religious Settlement were mixed. While it managed to pacify most of the population, there were still some who remained disgruntled. Catholics felt alienated and marginalised, while Protestant radicalists believed the reforms were not going far enough.

Growth of Puritanism

The term ‘Puritan’ was initially used as an insult for those who sought ‘purer’ forms of worship - those who wanted to rid the Church of its Catholic elements entirely.
By the late 1550s and 1560s, however, Puritanism became an important religious and social movement. It grew as a reaction to the perceived moderation of the Elizabethan Settlement, with its followers believing it did not go far enough in reforming the church.
Puritans were usually members of the middle or upper classes. Many of them were wealthy merchants or minor gentry, who had benefited from the economic and social changes of the time.
As Puritanism grew, it started to divide and create tensions within the Church and the wider society, laying the foundations for future religious conflicts in the following centuries.