Act of Uniformity 1552
Background
The Act of Uniformity 1552 was a piece of legislation passed by the English Parliament during the reign of Edward VI. It was one of several measures taken by the government to establish Protestantism as the official religion of England, following the break with Rome under Henry VIII. The Act mandated the use of a revised version of the Book of Common Prayer in all public worship, effectively outlawing the traditional Latin Mass and other Catholic rites.
Provisions of the Act
The Act of Uniformity 1552 was more comprehensive and stringent than its predecessor, the Act of Uniformity 1549. It required all clergy to use the revised Book of Common Prayer in their services, under penalty of deprivation of office and imprisonment. The Act also stipulated that anyone attending a service had to participate fully, including receiving Communion, or face a fine.
The revised Book of Common Prayer, which was attached to the Act, was significantly more Protestant in orientation than the 1549 version. It removed many elements that could be interpreted as supporting the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, and it included a new order for the Communion service that emphasized the Protestant understanding of the sacrament as a memorial of Christ's death, rather than a re-enactment of his sacrifice.
Impact of the Act
The Act of Uniformity 1552 had a profound impact on the religious landscape of England. It marked the culmination of the English Reformation, establishing Protestantism as the state religion and effectively outlawing Catholicism. The Act led to widespread resistance and unrest, particularly in the north of England, where adherence to the old religion remained strong.
The Act also had a significant impact on the development of the Anglican Church. The 1552 Book of Common Prayer, mandated by the Act, has remained the foundation of Anglican liturgy to this day, albeit with revisions and adaptations over the centuries.
Repeal and Legacy
The Act of Uniformity 1552 was repealed during the reign of Mary I, who sought to restore Catholicism as the state religion. However, it was reinstated, with further revisions to the Book of Common Prayer, under Elizabeth I. The Act of Uniformity 1559, passed at the beginning of Elizabeth's reign, was a compromise measure that sought to establish a middle way between the extremes of Protestantism and Catholicism, and it formed the basis for the religious settlement that has characterized the Church of England ever since.
The Act of Uniformity 1552 remains a significant milestone in the history of the English Reformation and the development of the Anglican Church. It represents the decisive move away from Catholicism and towards Protestantism that characterized the reign of Edward VI, and it laid the groundwork for the religious settlement of the Elizabethan era.