Elizabethan Era

Elizabeth’s 45-year reign is one of the outstanding epochs of English history. She molded the English church by restoring the reforms made by Cranmer when Parliament, by the Act of Supremacy, gave the queen similar control of religion as her father had enjoyed, but with the title of Governor of the Church of England. With certain reservations, the Prayer Book compiled during Edward’s reign was adopted and the revised Thirty-nine Articles became the norm of faith. The queen appointed new bishops and made Matthew Parker, her former tutor, Archbishop of Canterbury. In Parker, Elizabeth had an archbishop who would further Protestantism including the highly popular usage of Psalm singing.

Impact: Elizabeth’s popularity and the skill of men like Parker helped ensure the permanent establishment of Protestantism in Britain, although there were still many bumps in the road ahead.