Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 1: Queen, government and religion, 1558–69 - 2 The ‘settlement’…
Full specification wording
Option B4: Key topic 1: Queen, government and religion, 1558–69 - 2 The ‘settlement’ of religion: The Church of England: its role in society.
The Church of England played a central, multifaceted role in Elizabethan society, extending far beyond spiritual guidance.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 2
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The Church of England played a central, multifaceted role in Elizabethan society, extending far beyond spiritual guidance. It acted as a vital mechanism for social control and government communication; parish priests read out royal proclamations and reinforced the message of obedience to the Queen during sermons. The Church also provided essential social welfare, distributing alms to the poor and offering guidance during times of hardship. Furthermore, church courts handled moral offences, marriage disputes, and the proving of wills. By enforcing the Religious Settlement and monitoring the population through visitations, the Church ensured conformity and stability, making it an indispensable arm of Elizabeth's government in everyday life.
What earns the marks
- Explain the Church's role in communicating government policies and royal proclamations to the illiterate majority.
- Describe the social welfare functions of the Church, including poor relief and community support.
- Detail the jurisdiction of Church courts over moral issues, marriages, and wills.
- Analyse how the Church enforced the Religious Settlement and maintained social control through visitations and sermons.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Viewing the Church solely as a religious institution.
Put it right: It was also a crucial administrative and social organ of the state.
Assuming all poor relief was handled by the government.
Put it right: The Church was the primary provider of local charity and alms.
Forgetting the role of Church courts.
Put it right: They were separate from secular courts and dealt with specific everyday legal matters like wills and moral crimes.
Exam tips
- Emphasise the phrase 'social control' when discussing how the Church helped Elizabeth maintain power.
- Use the example of the parish priest reading proclamations to illustrate the Church's role in communication.
- Connect the role of the Church to the broader theme of maintaining stability in a divided society.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option B4: Key topic 1: Queen, government and religion, 1558–69 - 2 The ‘settlement’ of religion: The Church of England: its role in society. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was a primary social function of the parish church in Elizabethan England?
Listen
The Church of England played a central, multifaceted role in Elizabethan society, extending far beyond spiritual guidance. It acted as a vital mechanism for social control and government communication; parish priests read out royal proclamations and reinforced the message of obedience to the Queen during sermons. The Church also provided essential social welfare, distributing alms to the poor and offering guidance during times of hardship. Furthermore, church courts handled moral offences, marriage disputes, and the proving of wills. By enforcing the Religious Settlement and monitoring the population through visitations, the Church ensured conformity and stability, making it an indispensable arm of Elizabeth's government in everyday life. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain the Church's role in communicating government policies and royal proclamations to the illiterate majority. Describe the social welfare functions of the Church, including poor relief and community support. Detail the jurisdiction of Church courts over moral issues, marriages, and wills. Analyse how the Church enforced the Religious Settlement and maintained social control through visitations and sermons. Exam tip: Emphasise the phrase 'social control' when discussing how the Church helped Elizabeth maintain power.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Social control
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Government administration
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Community and welfare
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Law and morality
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See every definition
- Social control
- A vital mechanism through which the Church reinforced obedience to the Queen and ensured conformity and stability.
- Government administration
- The Church's role in government communication, with parish priests reading out royal proclamations and reinforcing the message of obedience during sermons.
- Community and welfare
- The Church's provision of essential social welfare, distributing alms to the poor and offering guidance during times of hardship.
- Law and morality
- The work of church courts in handling moral offences, marriage disputes and the proving of wills.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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