RELIGION: CONFLICT & DISSENT — Britain, 1625-1701: conflict, revolution and settlement (A Level History)

1625: Growth of Arminian theology

Growth among sections of the clergy who were simply anti-calvinists — Arminians able to build claims on the fact that the Anglican Church had found a balance of stripping out superstitious & misleading elements while remaining enough ceremony and hieracy to ensure order and respect.

Archbishop of Canterbury

William Laud, through his friendship with Charles I, he encouraged him to promote Arminian clerics only - appointed archbishop in 1633

1628-1640: Laudian reforms

Following his appointement of Archbishop, his influence grew. In 1633, his programme began to take effect & enforced by every local bishop. Focused on the decoration of churches, the conformity of the clergy & effected the roles of bishops.

-organs installed & decorated

-fonts decorated

-statue & colour returned to churches

-removale of communion table from center to the east side if the church (resembled roman catholics)

Opposition to Laudian reforms

Dissenting ministers were summoned before the church courts but could also be punished by the star chamber. More opposition found its voice in parl (1640) directed at laudian bishops — puritans compared Laud to French cardinals who were building an absolute monarchy.

When were the Laudian Reforms?

1628 - 1640

1640: Root and Branch Petition

A petition that attempted to remove the precieved root all problems in the Church: the rule of bishops — signed by 15,000 Londoners

Rejection of Arminianism in the Long Parliament 1640-1643

Parliament's abolition of prerogrative courts removed some of the most repressive apparatus used to control the church and the ability of individuals to discuss it. Root and Branch petition asked for an end of episcopacy — opposition in thr commons (puritans) able to draw widespread support to force the king to remove bishops from the privy council & pass a bill to exclude them from House of Lord. Failed to abolish episcopacy.

Parliament's decision of the church in 1645?

Church should be in presbyterian form

Religious conflict in parliament, 1646

Quarrel between the presbyterian leaders in parl & City of London — those who labelled independent (support rights of the godly to set up their own independent churches) vs small numbers of ministers in the Assembly soppotted by a minority of MPs & key members of parls New Model Army.

Apologetical Narration

January 1644, an appeal (by independent ministers) for the right to establish independent churches outside the national establishment — against the purity majority for a national church

Why was the army an ideal breeding ground for radical ideas?

Its easy to organise groups mong men who were brought together to live in close proximity & shared danger — they would inevitebly gain a sense of identity and loyalty to their comrades who were from areas like East Anglia or Lincolnshire (they have strong protestand traditions & history of radical protest.

Why were the New Model Army a problem for the growth of Presbyterianism?

New Model Army's mobility dangerous for a new disciplined national church — after battle of Naesby, the army moved across the country to mop up the remaining royalist forces, pattern emerged — their presence stimulated or emboldend existing religious groups & encouraging further conversions.

What led to the fall of Presbyterian hopes?

The attempt to disband the army in 1647 led to politicisation of the army & became a strong force

The Rump and Radicalisation

Radical groups (fith monarchist, ranters) led the rump to pass a harsh Blasphemy Act which radical religious activity oculd be subjucted to severe penalties. A widespread desire for religious & social discipline especially in London since the end of the war only increased the shock of regicide.

Churches under protectorate

Churches contiued to fuction under the commonwealth — variety of practices based on the prefrences of individual ministers & their communities, those who met outside the Church were largely left in peace as long as they were discreet.

The protectorate & religion

- Tries & Ejectors of 1654 ensured that ministers were competent, well-educated and capable of preaching the word of God.

- presbyterian & moderate Anglican ministers found employment

- number of independents served as parish ministers

- Calvinist sects were thus able to meet and worship outside the Church with relative impunity

- Catholic and Arminian churches did pose a risk to others as they sought to impose their views - Quakers wew subjected to persecution when they tried to spread their views.

1656-1657, The Nayler Case

James Nayer was one of the preachers sent by Fox to convert the South & had gathered a Quaker meeting near bristol — Nayler apperead riding a donkey into Bristol on palm Sunday while a female Quaker dropped flowers (re-enactment of Christ's entry into Jerusalem) — accused of blasphemy & some MPs called for his execution. Cromwell intervened by challenging parliament's right to inflict such harsh punishment. Nayler still publically flogged, bored through the toungue and imprisoned.

The importance of the Nayler Case?

Revealed the attitudes of widespread fear which ran amongst MPs, the people & most importantly the elites — such unconvetional behaviour threatened the moral and social discipline upon which good order depended.

The Restoration Church

Under Charles II, the Convention Parliament of 1660 re-established the Church of England, restord bishops leaving the details to be worked out in the Savoy House confrence (1661) — created division (presbyterian royalists, high church party & Lautitudarian)

Venner's rising

1661, led by Thomas Venner (fifth monarchist) gave new life to the old fear of religious radicals, monarchists believed that the second coming of Jesus would take place in 1666 — ineffectual & ill-concieved.

Result of the Savoy House conference of 1661?

Confrence ended without agreement, passed to High Church Arminans & anti- Puritan parliament = Act of uniformity (1662) imposed formality & episcopal control creating non-conformists (1,800 ministers driven from their living)

Who was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1663?

Gilbert Sheldon

Role of Bishops post-1600?

Bishops ordained new ministers & recreate the machiney of the Church Courts. 3 requirements designed to make continued service as a minister possible:

- had to be re-ordained by a bishop which emphasised the status & power of the bishops also suggests that their previous ministry was invalid.

- had to renounce the presbyterian convenant

- had to accept every element of the prayer book

Dominance of Anglicanism

Anglican Church socially & politocally dominat due to acts such as The Corporation Act (1661), The Clarendon Code (1661-1665, four acts designed to restrict non-conformist) all work of Anglican alliances. When Charles tries to impose the 2nd Act of Indulgemce it was fought with the Test Act (1672) highlighting an increase for conformity.

Tory policies

Charles II appointment of Thomas Osborne (Earl of Danby) as Lord Treasurer in 1673 allowed Danby to renew persecutions of protestant dissenters & excersie royal social and political patronage to build up majorities in both Houses of parl — strengthening of royal Anglican authority became Tory policy.

1660-1669, Non-conformity

The Clarendon code differed from previous persecution of English puritans: it was its scale and the numbers of people effected, the biterness & desire for revenge (which was enforced in many places) and it directed primarily at those who wanted to remain within the Church and had no desire to establish separate congregations.

Shaw (effects of the Act of Uniformity)

Shaw a preacher at Holy Trinity Church who was dismissed in the wake of the Corporation Act (1661) - appelead and was allowed to continue preaching. Half of the church congregation left and followe Shaw = town gates closed early causing 300 people to sleep in almshouse & Shaw banned from entering hull (orderd by Sheldon)

The position of Quakers

Quakers suffered the most — they refused to meet in secret making them vulnrable, they had a peculiar method of worship (meeting in silence until someone present was moved to speak to God) raised suspicion — 1662 Quaker Act allowed them to be arrested & imprisoned without charge for long periods (after rejecting oath of allegience)

1660s, Improvements for dissenters

By 1660 mood for revenge beginning to soften & in 1667 the Conventicle Act expired — signs of new networks developing even amongst presbyterians. Most significant = changing attitudes - growing concerns with the declinging numbers of dissenting clergy available to support the meetings that existed led dissenters to consider how to provide replacements.

Impact of persecution on dissenters

Quakers organisation was shattered due to persecution, previously meeting were self-sufficient & didn't require ordrs from a cebtral office, had poor relief to itd members and movement linked to travelling preachers — men who led this were removed, imprisoned or worse.

Sympathy for dissenters by Charles II

• 1662, charles shows sympathy by attempting to suspend Act of Uniformity but anti- puritan sentiment in parl & church stops him

• 1672, king suspends Conventicle Act & introduces Declaration of Indulgence that would allow dissenters the freedom not to attend church and to meet in licensed gatherings of their own

• Changing attitudes & digust to excesses of the law, and dignity which many of the non-conformists bore their sufferings brought change to the political climate.

1669-1688, Non-conformity

• 1676, Danby mounts a census of dissenting groups in a bid to persuade Charles persecution should be renewed — only partially completed & failed.

• 1682-83, faliure of Exclusion, Rye House Plot & collapse of Whig power allowed Charles to persue his own agenda — renew attack on dissent and on the source of Whig power associated with them.

• 1683-86, persecution the harshest ever experienced, many meetings had to be abandoned or a certain length of time.

• 1686-1687, persecutions were ceased — failed as dissenters re-emerged stronger and better organised, therefore more able to withstand the onslaught but public opinion had already shifted away from the desire for uniformity.

Why did the dissenters survive the years of persecution?

• commitment and dedication of those who left the Church, either voluntairly or by ejection, to their beliefs and their need to retain them.

• the level of support given by symapthisers, first by individuals then my social & political organisations (included people of power).

•mistakes made by the enemy — the decision to define uniformity on a narrow basis increasing the number & range of dissenters. If the desire of most presbeteryian had been met (diversity in church) then dissent would'nt have been on such a large scale & those who did would have been met with more difficulty.

Origins of anti-Catholicism

• Thirty years war (James I) in 1618 fought to resist tge expansion ofCatholic power

• Events like the gunpowder plot (1608) & outbreak of war was thought to be work of Catholics which reinforced fears

• popular belief that Catholic church intended the destruction of other religions & the absolute control of religious life wherever it gained influence

Charles I & Catholicism

• Marriage to Henrietta Maria — allowed to actively practise catholicsm, encouraged others, had catholic advisers & opened Catholic church

• promoted Arminianism which resembled catholic traditions (Laudian reforms)

•style of court elevated monarchy to a semi-religious mystique — used imagery and approaches perfected in Catholic Rome e.g. Catholic painter decorated ceilings of Banqering House glorifying the monarchy by placing them at the shoulder of God.

• mid 1630s, high profile privy council members had Catholic wives

•puritans harrased vs catholics undisturbed

• those who protested were silenced & given brutal punishments by bishops and privy councillors

Exclusion of Catholics from religious toleration

• 1643, long parl passed an requirement for all Catholics over 21 to swear an oath denying their basic belief — if refused then 2/3 of land & goods confiscated, have to pay 2x amount of assesment tax.

• post-civil war, Catholics estates were confiscated & forced to conform.

•1650, Toleration Act passed by the Rump parliament excluded Catholics (removed requirement to attend Anglican church)

•1656, oath reissued — fine of £100 for anyone caught worshipping at Catholic churches eventually closing the, down.

The protectorate & Catholicism

• Cromwell not prepared to grant Catholics toleration

• 1654, order issued by Cromwell stating that laws against Catholics under Elizabeth & James I were to continue

• 1665, proclomation demanding the laws against catholic influence in the priesthood to be adhered to — report sent to Cromwell that 992 people refused tomtake the Oath of Abjuration

• Catholic influence not the major focus on political battle & religious tensions that dominated affairs

1660-1688, Anti-Catholic Sentiment

• Fear of catholicism following the restoration — plauge (1665) & Great fire (1666) sparked rumors of Catholic agents at work, while at war with the Dutch (Which was popular) disasters that followed were blamed on catholicism.

• 1667, Louis XIV launched attack on the Dutch, (1688) Charles in talks with Louis through his sister was was married to the French King's brother.

Charles II & Catholicism

• 1670, Treaty of Dover - Charles' desire to have financial dependency from parl, secret clause stated that he would announce his conversion to catholicism if helped

• 1672, Act of indulgence - an attempt for Charles to provide catholics with the feedom to worship in private

• associated with Latitudarians indicates he has sympathetic attitudes towards dissenters.

• his brother married a catholic (Mary of Modena)

• Rye House plot & popish plot highlight the threats he faced due to his belief

When did James II announce his conversion to Catholicism?

1669

James II & Catholicism

• wanted to ensure equality as citizens for his fellow catholics by using his monarchial power

• 1673, marries Mary of Modena and fears of a catholic heir being born

• 1686, issued instructions to the bishops forbidding the preaching of anti-catholic semons — set up court of ecclestical comissions to oversee enforcement

• Set up a liscensing office to sell permits to dissenters, exempting them from laws of the Clarendon code

•dismissed Anglican advisers in an attempt to fill parliament with those in favor of repealing acts.

• 1687, Act of indulgence — allowing catholics and dissenters to worship freely

1688, Act allowing Catholics & dissenters to meet up without specific liscence.

Effects of James II

Led to seven political figure welcoming William of Orange — the Glorius Revolution.