A2 Revision Religion 1660-1688
The aim was to re-establish Anglicanism as the State Religion and
as the main controller of Government positions.
The Clarendon Code can be seen as a direct attempt to achieve
this.
Non conformity survived [see below] despite the legislation and
Catholicism was not viewed as threatening in the first decade,
but the contacts with France and the conversion of James raised
the issue again.
The 1670’s saw an increasing number of Catholics at Court, [if not
the wider catholic community].
The Test Act was an attempt to reassure those afraid of James’s
intent on succession. Parliament met irregularly over the following
3 years and a plot in 1678 ensured the fears and suspicions were
revived and the flames fanned.
Catholicism and France were highlighted and led to a new
parliament being called, the first elections for 18 years. This
focussed attention on the heir. A political crisis emerged from
religious issues and the 2nd Test Act 1678 excluded Catholics from
Parliament.
The basis of Party Politics can be found here and is connected to
the problems of controlling the prerogative powers of the
monarch.
Charles reacts due to his belief that this was an attack on the
succession but also because he saw the attack on the power,
status and existence of the monarchy.
Anglicanism, and in fact all Christian churches were affected by
the growth of the scientific debate.
Following developments across Europe in England various
proponents of mathematical theory and reasoning and proof
through experimentation began to increase in influence.
Anglicans joined the Royal Society and included 2 future
Archbishops of Canterbury & the Bishop of Chester. Strong
debate surrounded the application of the Christian model to the
Newton principia. Newton himself was profoundly religious and
had a horror of atheism.
The position of Dissent tends to fluctuate in this period. After the
early years the Conventicle Acts lapsed and toleration was
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practised. Then during May 1670 – April 1671 repression increased
but was followed by a more tolerant attitude encouraging the
Declaration of Indulgence 1672 which was received with
demands for increased repression until the Popish Plot and
Exclusion heralded a more lenient attitude before the repression
of the period 1681-85.
Dissenters found ways to cope with the repression of these times.
Dissenting Academies were formed to counter the restrictions of
Oxford & Cambridge. Preachers trained in Holland and 5 main
sects emerged. [Quakers, Presbyterians, Baptists [General &
Particular] and Independents.
The Catholic community, though small was constant c60, 000 [1%
of the population]. There was a fair representation among the
governing class and politically conformed. They obeyed the law
and enjoyed practical toleration. During 1679-80 only 1 Peer and
no landed gentry was convicted of High Treason.
The position of the Duke of York and Louis XIV was the main threat
and Anglican fears post the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes led
to an increase in written debate.
Anglicanism survived due to a commitment of its leaders to have
an ordered and disciplined church on the Laudian model.
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Protestant Nonconformity
Restoration Settlement was an Anglican backlash.
1662 non-conformists were legally defined by the Act of
Uniformity. If the Book of Common Prayer was not followed the
church was deemed illegal. Non conformity could result in
confiscation of gods or even death. The Quakers were specifically
singled out in 1662.
What was a Dissenter?
Those who refused to attend Anglican
services. They were totally separate from
the Church of England and had no wish to
be included in it. They included members
of a variety of sects.
What was a Non-Conformist?
They also refused to attend Anglican
service but held basically the same beliefs
as Anglicans. They rejected the Act of
Uniformity.
Clergy might refuse ordination from a
Bishop, may not assent to the Book of
Common Prayer as it prevented
extempore prayer, and may refuse to
accept church government by Bishops.
Many clergy still attended Anglican service
but also held non-conformist meetings.
Ordinary churchgoers [Laity] may attend
Anglican Communion once a month.
As the reign progressed a new generation developed.
They had no wish to incorporated into the
C of E.
Their case was strengthened after the Dec.
of Indulgence 1672.
Numbers are based on Bishop Compton’s
census 1676 which suggests 5% of the
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population were full non-conformists. This
may be an underestimate as definition is
difficult.
Debate over Comprehension and Toleration.
The authorities moved away from inclusion.
This caused problems as Local
Government officials didn’t want to
persecute or prosecute their neighbours.
Some wished to make the Church more
comprehensive so they could more easily
isolate dissenters.
Others wished to have a measure of
toleration which would isolate those seen
as a threat to political or social order.
Internal splits were seen as more
damaging than having an identifiable
group outside the Church.
The issue is raised throughout Charles II’s reign
This followed the Declaration of 1662 which
seemed to use the prerogative to dispense
groups from the law and appeared to
crave indulgence for Catholics and
Dissenters.
The Conventicle Act 1670 gave Charles
the impression he could dispense
individuals from the law, but this was
dispelled following the persecution which
followed in London.
1672 2nd Dec of Indulgence applied to
Catholics and Dissenters
1673 Parliament forced the King to
withdraw this. Again the problem also
concerned prerogative power. The Test
Act showed attitudes towards Catholics.
By the time of Exclusion attempts at a
Toleration and Comprehension \bill failed
to pass the Commons.
Intense anti Catholicism following the
Popish Plot led some to expect an attempt
to unite Protestants against Catholicism
but this was not acceptable to Parliament.
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With the ‘Tory reaction’ intolerant policies
were enforced and the cause of
comprehension lost momentum.
Indulgence seemed a more attractive
option.
James II
James failed to get Dissenter support to repeal the Test and
Corporation Acts
 Dissenters associated Catholicism with
absolutism and had more in common with
Anglicans than Catholics
 They were divided among themselves
making a united policy difficult
 They did not trust James
 Archbishop Sancroft set up a committee
to investigate changes in the prayer book
to give it more appeal to dissenters
 They were alarmed by James’s policy of
trying to influence MP’s and remodel
corporations to get a pliable parliament.
2nd Dec of Indulgence April 1688 placed the Anglican clergy in a
difficult position and led to the Seven Bishop protest. The birth of a
child was seen as a Catholic plot and led to unity against a
Catholic dynasty and the eventual removal of James.
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