Laud's policy and religious uniformity

how was the Anglican Church established and what were some features of it?

* established by Elizabeth I as a ‘middle way’ between Catholicism and European Protestantism.
* Retained many traditional features of Catholicism (eg. vestments and incense) while reflecting the views of John Calvin

describe the middle way?

* an uneasy compromise that ensured religious peace for many years.

by 1625 there were growing divisions within Anglicanism (1)

* Arminianism was a set of beliefs which promoted church services involving rituals and formal ceremony.
* Arminians followed the traditional Catholic belief in free-will - individuals could choose whether or not to follow a path to salvation

by 1625 there were growing divisions within Anglicanism (2)

* Puritans were Anglicans who opposed rituals and priestly vestments.
* they wanted to purify services by promoting simplicity rather than ceremony.
* concerned for people’s moral improvement and supported action against moral misbehaviour (eg adultery and drunkenness)
* believed in the Calvinist doctrine of predestination - God had already chosen who would be saved regardless of behaviour during their lifetime

when was William Laud appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury?

* 1633

what were some of Laud’s works to impose greater religious uniformity on church services?

* moving the communion to the east end of a church and had it railed off from the congregation.
* vestments and incense to be used in services
* encouraged hymns and sacred music
* installation of stained glass windows

how did the Puritans react to Laud's Arminian measures?

* the measures angered Puritans - stressed the outward forms of worship
* they believed Laud was pushing the church towards Catholicism
* further offended with the ‘Book of Sports’ 1633 - allowed people to participate in sports and pastimes on Sunday

what was the general response to Laud’s measures?

* most people welcomed his reforms - imposed fewer demands on those attending Sunday services
* also approved of the reduction in the number of sermons - which were popular with the Puritans

how did the church ensure Laud’s measures were imposed?

* visitations by the agents of bishops in their dioceses were conducted more thoroughly
* evidence of these being reviewed by Laud and Charles
* Laud made use of church courts (especially Court of High Commission) to punish (fines or imprisonment) those who refused to implement Laudianism

what happened to thousands of Puritan clergy and followers after 1633?

* many puritan clergy were unable to accept the changes to church services
* they emigrated to the American colonies where they could worship freely without fear of persecution.

what was the gentry’s general reaction to Laud’s actions?

* many opposed Lauds actions - mostly strong Calvinists and believed he was disrupting the ‘middle way’

what was the case of Prynne, Bastwick and Burton 1637?

* middle-class professionals charged with smuggling anti-Arminian tracts from abroad and publishing attacks on bishops.
* were sentenced to their ears mutilated and imprisoned for life

how did Laud’s opposition respond to the case of Prynne, Bastwick and Burton 1637?

* the harsh sentences were out of proportion to their offences
* attacks on Laud featured prominently in the Long Parliament in 1640