Religion Act 1580 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to retain the Queen's Majesty's Subjects in their due Obedience. |
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| Citation | 23 Eliz. 1. c. 1 |
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Religion Act 1580 was a law passed by the Parliament of England in 1580. This happened during a time known as the English Reformation, when England was changing its official religion.
This law was made to make sure people stayed loyal to Queen Elizabeth I and the Church of England. It aimed to stop people from encouraging others to switch their loyalty to the Pope in Rome.
Contents
What the Religion Act 1580 Did
This law had a few important rules. It was a way for the Queen to keep control over religious matters in England.
Loyalty to the Queen
One main part of the Act made it very serious to try and convince people to stop being loyal to the Queen. It was also against the law to get people to leave the Church of England and join the Roman Catholic Church. This was seen as going against the Queen's authority.
Church Attendance Rules
The Act also made it more expensive for people who did not go to church. If someone missed church, they could be fined £20 a month. This was a lot of money back then! If they could not pay, they could be put in prison until they agreed to follow the rules.
Rules About Mass
Finally, the law made it illegal to celebrate or attend a Catholic church service called the Mass. People who held or went to Mass could be fined and put in prison. This was because the Mass was a key part of the Roman Catholic faith, which the Queen was trying to limit in England.
