The Thirty-nine Articles of Religion are a foundational doctrinal statement of the Church of England, established during the English Reformation. They were developed from earlier doctrinal statements, notably the 42 Articles of 1553, which were drafted under King Edward VI by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and reflected strong Protestant Reformation principles. After a period of Catholic restoration under Queen Mary I, the 42 Articles were replaced when Queen Elizabeth I ascended the throne in 1558. She reinstated Protestant reforms, leading to a revised and condensed version of the articles, finalized in 1563 and given royal assent in 1571.
