Westminster Conference 1559 facts for kids

The Westminster Conference of 1559 was an important religious debate held early in the reign of Elizabeth I of England. This meeting helped shape the new official religion of England, known as the Elizabethan religious settlement. It also led to the approval of the 1559 Book of Common Prayer, which set out how church services would be held.

Who Was There?

The conference brought together two main groups of religious leaders. There were nine important Catholic churchmen, including five bishops. Facing them were nine well-known Protestant reformers from the Church of England.

Catholic Leaders

The Catholic side included several bishops and other churchmen:

• Bishops: Ralph Baynes, John White, Thomas Watson, Owen Oglethorpe, and Cuthbert Scott.
• Other Catholic leaders: Alban Langdale, Henry Cole, William Chedsey, and Nicholas Harpsfield.

Protestant Leaders

The Protestant side was made up of these key figures:

• John Jewel, John Scory, Richard Cox, David Whitehead, Edwin Sandys, Edmund Grindal, Robert Horne, John Aylmer, and Edmund Gheast.

What Happened?

The conference began on March 31, 1559. The debate started, but it quickly stopped because the two sides couldn't agree on the rules. It was then put on hold permanently on April 3. This timing was during a break for Parliament.

Some historians believe the event was planned to make the Catholic viewpoint on religious changes look bad. It took place in Westminster Hall, a large building in London.

The Main Topics

The debate focused on three main points:

• Language in Church: Should church services be in Latin or English?
• Church Authority: Who should decide how people worship?
• Mass: What did the Bible say about the special church service called the Mass?

Nicholas Bacon was in charge of the meeting. He was joined by Nicholas Heath. Two other men, John Feckenham and James Turberville, sat with the Catholic bishops.

The Debate Stops

For the Catholic side, Henry Cole spoke first. He argued that Latin should continue to be used in church services. Then, Robert Horne replied for the Protestants with a prepared speech, arguing for English.

However, the debate soon ran into trouble. The two sides couldn't agree if they should speak their arguments or write them down. They also disagreed on whether to use Latin or English for the debate itself. Nicholas Heath, who had helped set up the debate, did not step in to support the Catholic side's view on the rules.

Nicholas Bacon, who was leading the meeting, was not neutral. He pushed some of the Catholic participants, which led to them acting offensively. As a result, two bishops, Watson and White, were sent to the Tower of London. Other officials were ordered to search their homes. Six more participants were fined by the Queen's council.

What Happened Next?

After the conference, on April 9, a sermon was given explaining why the two bishops were imprisoned. The next day, a new law about the Queen's power over the church was proposed.

The Uniformity Act of 1559, which set the rules for church services, successfully passed through Parliament. However, it passed by only three votes in the House of Lords. Some people believed that Catholic bishops and noblemen were kept away from the Lords to help the bill pass.

The next year, John Jewel explained the position of the Church of England after these changes. He invited others to challenge his views. Henry Cole replied to him, starting a long debate between the two sides.