James I and Religion

Religious Situation:

    England - Predominately Protestant, minor Catholic population. Church of England     only legal Church, with King as supreme governor of Church of England. Archbishops     of York and Canterbury. Episcopacy system (structure).

    Scotland - Majority Protestant, however powerful minority Catholic, except in     lowlands, in which protestantism is much higher. James was not head of Church of     Scotland, but as he was free monarch he felt as if he was absolute. Reformation     came from the lower class than the upper class. Kirk = scottish Church

    Ireland - Large majority Catholic. Protestant reformation in Ireland failed. Church of     Ireland = Church of England in Ireland.

        Catholic vs King, as King head of Church of England, conflict between religion and         sovereignty.

James attitudes towards religion:

Church of England and Puritanism: Puritans sometimes referred to as the “godly”, active and vocal, evidenced though Millenary Petition (allegedly signed by 1000 members of clergy), list of demands which included removal of “Popish” practises and garments. appeasement in form of Hampton Court Conference - considered not inclsuive, only 5 puritans present. outnumbered by members of privy council. however, james calling conference suggests he wished to solve problems, or at least appear to be solving them. very different to Elizabeth, who viewed her reign as a settlement, and not a place for further reformation. led to new translation of bible (King James version). Later years - during 30 year war, was expected to take protestant side, however, he aimed to remain neutral, but this could be argued to have made it overall worse 

Catholics and anti-popery: James saw them to jeopardies order and unity, Gunpowder plot (1605). solution: Oath of Allegiance (1606) made Catholics swear to uphold allegiance, and state Pope was unable to overthrow King. considered “soft” on Catholics. James son Charles married French Catholic henrietta maria (1624), controversy due to difference between Charles as Protestant and Henrietta, but in the long term led to stronger relationship. Other religious groups believed James favoured the Catholics. Spanish Match led to tensions in Parliament as James removed recusancy fines. Over reign, decreased recusancy fines from £8000 to £2000

Development of Arminianism: James strong belief in Bishops and DRK, aligned with Arminian Belief in Jure Divino, gained him high amount of support. Declaration for Preachers (1622) controlled sermons preached by clergy. Admission of Andrewes and Rcihard Neile to priv council, bias towards Arminians, as clear that Neile showed support for Divinity of Kings. Led to more opposition from Arminians. 

The Kirk: When James came to throne, Scotland had an established presbyterian Church, with no Bishops (rejected episcopacy). James saw Bishops as extremely important, due to feel that Bishops allowed for order within church.. 1600 – James creates three Scottish bishops, and by 1606, every Scottish diocese had a bishop (suggests James is gaining control) 1617, James went to Scotland, 5 articles of Perth (ratified in 1621), aimed to align CofE with CofS. Initally rejected by Kirk, but enacted in 1618. Significant opposition from Church Leeaders, as viewed as threat to reformed beliefs.