23 - Religious changes: anglicanism, Protestantism, catholciism and toleration

What was the Glorious revolution a reaction against?

James II made direct attempts to extend toleration to Protestant dissenters, including quakers and Catholics. The Glorious revolution was a reaction against this by both Whigs and Tories.

This revolution ended catholic hopes, but because of William III's approach to religion, it also brought about some change for protestant

How was William III regarded by the Whigs

William was regarded as a calvinist hero who had saved them from catholicism and absolutism.

What is Latitudinarianism?

Not insisting on strict conformity to a particular doctrine or standard.

What was Religion like under William III?

William was sympathetic to dissenters. In practice, William was in tune with the development of latitudinarianism that was also a feature of many clergy in the Church of England and the position of many dissenters.

William appointed many latitudinarians as bishops during his reign, such as John Tillotson, appointed Archbishop of Canterbury

What was the effect of latitudinarianism under William III?

Over time appointments such as william appointing bishops during his reign, helped soften the approach of the church of england to moderate dissenters.

How was the effect of latitudinarianism limited under william III?

Limited due to the continuing dominance by Anglicans in the church's governing body, the local parish hierarchy and the gentry of the political nation, the church remained centred on a relatively narrow Anglican position.

When William and Mary came to power, how did they sought to change the anglicans' position?

They sought religious settlement and wanted to repeal the test acts (Acts that restricted catholics and dissenters from taking public office).

What was the name of the bill that William and Mary proposed for their religious settlement?

Comprehension Bill

When was the comprehension Bill?

March 1689

What was the Comprehension bill and when was it proposed? What happened as a result?

In march 1689 a comprehension bill was proposed but the anglican church governing body, the convocation, rejected the bill, and parliament was willing only to pass a limited toleration act.

When was the toleration act?

1689

What was the toleration act and when was it proposed?

It allowed dissenters to be exempted from the penal laws if they took the oath of allegiance and were willing to make a declaration against transubstantiation. Proposed in 1689

Dissenters could now worship freely if their meeting house was licensed and they kept their doors open during services.

What was the effect of the toleration act?

During the year after the act, 900 meeting houses received licenses.

What was the limitation of the toleration act of 1689?

The toleration act didn’t exempt dissenters from the test acts, and they were therefore still barred from public office. Catholics received no concessions.

Thus, Anglicans essentially remained in control of the church; this is reflective of parliament representing a political nation that remained conservative and Anglican in outlook.

What was the Tories worried about after the toleration act of 1689?

The tories were worried by the further expansion of quakers.

Give example of William appointing latitudinarains as bishops and when he was appointed?

John Tillotson became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1691.

What was the effect on Tories of William appointing latitudinarians as bishops?

This concerned tories because they believed that such clergy members as Tillotson were not doing enough to prevent what they feared was the rapid growth of dissent.

What are the reasons why Tories were fearful of the growth of latitudinarianism? (just name the reasons)

- Monied men

- Dissenters would destroy the church of England

- Growth of dissenter pamphlets

Why were 'monied men' a reason why tories were fearful of the growth of latitudinarianism?

Many dissenters were 'monied' men who quickly grew wealthy as they lent money to others and funded investment. This posed a real threat to the traditional Anglican Tory political nation, which faced apparent declining influence.

Why was 'Dissenters would destroy the church of England' a reason why Tory were fearful of the growth of latitudinarianism?

The tories were prejudiced and believed that dissenters would destroy the church of england.

Traditional clergy members felt they were losing control, as they could no longer enforce attendance at their churches, and also disliked that dissenters could openly practice their faiths and educate others in their faiths.

As the historian craig rose argues, the reign of William III was seen as a 'living nightmare' to church of england

Why was 'Growth of dissenter pamphlets' a reason why tory were fearful of the growth of latitudinarianism?

Tory fears were particularly triggered by the growth of dissenter pamphlets after the 1695 expiry of the Licensing act allowed dissenters greater freedom to publish.

The tories' response was one of panic, with their slogan being the 'church in danger'.

This somewhat hysterial reaction was based on the tory concern that dissenters could take anglican communion once a year and be protected from the penal laws. This would also allow them to hold public office despite the limitations of the toleration act.

Tory attempts to prevent this through bills in parliament were stopped by the whig and latitudinarian bishops in the lords.

The continuing tension over 'occasional conformity' remained an issue in the early years of the eighteenth century.

How were there changes to the catholics' position under William III?

While it slowly became easier for catholics to worship without interference, they remained a minority subject to perseuction, as they were followers of an illegal religion.

Anti-catholicism and links with the threat of absolutist catholic france remained a theme in english politics throughout William III's rule.

What was the catholic threat from Louis XIV?

The French king Louis XIV was the dominating european power fo the time and had the potential to attain universal monarch

What were the two events that helped quiet down anti-catholic sentiment.

One was William's wars on the continent, which prevented catholic Louis XIV from completely dominating Western Europe.

The other was his victory at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690 over the Catholic Jacobite-inspired invasion from Ireland

When was the Battle of Boyne?

July 1690

What was the situation in Ireland under William and Mary?

Ireland was the centre of Jacobite resistance when william and mary became monarchs, as there many catholics there who were loyal to James II.

By March 1689, Catholics controlled all of Ireland apart from Ulster. Therefore, Ireland posed a threat of catholic invasion on behalf of the exiled monarch.

Describe what happened in the Battle of Boyne:

William landed in Ireland in June 1690.

In total William coudl call on about 36,000 troops to face James' 25,000.

On 1 July William defeated James at the Battle of the Boyne, and thereby ended any serious hopes the Jacobites had of using Ireland as a launching pad for an invasion of England.

What was the effect of the Battle of the Boyne?

Protestant control was imposed on all of Ireland.

What was the name of the treaty after the victory at the battle of the Boyne?

Treaty of Limerick

When was the treaty of Limerick?

1691

What was the treaty of Limerick?

The Treaty of Limerick was an agreement signed in 1691 that ended the war in Ireland between supporters of James II(Jacobites) and those of William III (Williamites), following the Glorious Revolution.

It promised concessions to catholics.

What was the actual result of the treaty of Limerick?

Despite the promise of concessions to catholics, toleration for catholics was not on the agenda.

Instead, the irish and english parliaments through a variety of measures, established a penal code that restricted opportunities for catholics in Both Ireland and England.