Religion: conflict and dissent, 1625-1688
Timeline-
1625 Accession of Charles I + marriage to Catholic Henrietta Maria
1628 Laud appointed Bishop of London
1633 Laud becomes archbishop of Canterbury
1637 Burton, Bastwick + Prynne sentenced by court of Star Chamber
1637-40 Scottish rebellion + Bishop’s Wars
1640 Root and Branch Petition (fails)
1645 Presbyterian Directory of Worship published, never fully implemented
1650 Ranter scare, Blasphemy and Adultery Acts passed to restrict Puritans
1650-52 Emergence of Quakers
1656 James Nayler Case
1661 Fifth Monarchists, Venner’s rising in London
1662 Act of Uniformity restoes High Church control
1664 First Conventicle Act
1665 Five Mile Act
1668 James Duke of York converts to Catholicism
1672-73 Declaration of Indulgence, attempt for toleration for Catholics
1678 Popish Plot
1679-82 Exclusion Crisis
1685 Accession of James II, Protestant Monmouth rebellion crushed
1688 2nd Declaration of Indulgence + Trial of Seven Bishops, William of Orange
invited + Glorious Revolution
Religious spectrum-
Areas of Belief Puritan/Calvinist Anglican Arminian Roman Catholic
Faith and Salvation by faith to Salvation by faith Salvation open to all Salvation open to all
salvation those predestined; alone who seek it through through the Catholic
shown by a willingness a true Church; God Church
to accept discipline and offers it to all,
a godly life mankind free to
accept or reject
Role of the To guide and teach Guidance through The Church guides The Catholic Church
Church according to the Bible. authority of the through a priesthood and its sacraments
Use discipline to support Church based on the given special status provide the path to
the godly and control Bible and symbolized by God; taking part
sinners robes and counts for salvation
ceremonies
Preaching and Preaching is the primary Preaching and Rituals and Ritual is part of
ritual function of the clergy, providing some ceremonies create worship and brings
supported by Bible study, rituals is the reverence and can people together
private prayer and function of the bring the ignorant to before God; only the
reading; rituals are a clergy. Rituals can God; beauty is in priesthood can
superstitious distraction support some itself an act of conduct rituals that
aspects of faith, e.g., reverence; preaching count for salvation
, baptism, Holy is useful, but so are
Communion set prayers and
rituals
Role of Bishops have no special Bishops have Bishops have a Bishops have a
bishops power; the true leader of authority to govern special authority special authority
the congregation is the the Church in the passed down from passed down from
minister, chosen by them, name of the Christ himself Christ through the
and a national Church monarch through St. Peter Papacy
should be led by a and the Church
committee of ministers before it went
astray; they receive
power of
enforcement from
the monarch
Attitude to Those in authority should Obedience is due to Obedience to The authority of the
authority be obeyed unless they higher authority authority in Church pope is from God;
threaten God's will and except on matters and state should be he is therefore
true religion essential to salvation complete; if you infallible, and
cannot obey in obedience is
conscience, you essential
must surrender to
punishment
Attitude to The Catholic Church is The Catholic Church The Catholic Church The authority of the
Catholic evil, seeking to corrupt is a threat to true is the early Church pope is from God;
Church true faith; the pope is the faith, but some misled by error; it is he is therefore
servant of the devil issues are not a sister Church like infallible, and
essential those set up by obedience is
Luther and Calvin; essential
they should all be
treated in the same
way
Confessional state- single national Church maintained by govt., with failure to attend seen as a
crime
Puritans- protestants who believe in predestination and that Protestantism was too focused on
rituals and superstition, didn’t stray far enough away from Catholicism
Presbyterian Kirk- established on Puritan principles and saw events around them as God’s
Providence
Laud’s policies and religious uniformity, 1625-40
Arminians- believed the Church of Rome was misguided, not evil. They wanted to get rid of
superstition but to keep enough ceremony and hierarchy, colour, statues and carvings in churches
and for the clergy to wear robes and symbols to keep hierarchy and respect
By 1625, signs of Arminianism came from Jacob Arminius, who challenged the Calvinist belief
of predestination. More accurately, Arminians were just anti-Calvinist. This was offensive to
Calvinists and Puritans as it went against beliefs that all men were spiritually equal before God,
people had a right to a direct relationship with God and gave lots of power to bishops.
, 1624 Richard Montagu publishes first public expression of Arminianism, attack on
Calvinist doctrine
1625 C. took Montagu under personal protection after complaints made in P.
1626 Proclamation issued by C. which forbade public discussion of sensitive religious
doctrine, seen as a restriction on preaching for Calvinists, doesn’t affect Arminians
1627 Archbishop of Canterbury Abbot briefly suspended for refusing to grant an
Arminian sermon
Fear of a proto-Catholic conspiracy was an overreaction from Puritan MPs e.g. Prynne.
However, C. meshed well with Arminians given his love of order and the arts, and their support
for royal authority due to respect for hierarchy. The reforms to come would alienate a large part
of the population. This was exacerbated by-
The Catholic Queen
Appointment of Catholics to offices in govt.
Catholic aggression in Europe
Dissenting ministers, e.g. Bastwick were brought before the Star Court for criticising Laud.
Laud’s reforms, 1628-40-
Organs installed, fonts decorated
Statues and colour returned to churches
Movement of the communion table from the centre to the east side, where the RC altar
always stood, looked like the RC doctrine of transubstantiation
In 1640, the opposition (Puritans) found their voice in parliament, attacking Laudian bishops.
There were complaints about their arrogance, pretentious lifestyles and attempts to impose their
own views. Other complaints were that bishops were taking high roles e.g. Laud as Privy
Counciller, depriving the nobility and gentry of roles, and doing the king’s wishes regardless of
the impact since they relied on royal favour.
Parliament’s re-ordering of the Church, 1640-60
Rejection of Arminianism in Long P. 1640-43-
Root and Branch Petition, 1640- Asked for the abolition of episcopacy (government of a church
by bishops and listed religious grievances e.g. restrictions on preaching, the encouragement of
Arminian and Catholic ideas
The opposition forced the king to remove bishops from the Privy Council and pass a bill to
exclude them in the HoL, but the attempt to abolish episcopacy failed. The activities of the Long
Parliament had limited significant impact on daily religious life before the civil war.
Timeline-
1625 Accession of Charles I + marriage to Catholic Henrietta Maria
1628 Laud appointed Bishop of London
1633 Laud becomes archbishop of Canterbury
1637 Burton, Bastwick + Prynne sentenced by court of Star Chamber
1637-40 Scottish rebellion + Bishop’s Wars
1640 Root and Branch Petition (fails)
1645 Presbyterian Directory of Worship published, never fully implemented
1650 Ranter scare, Blasphemy and Adultery Acts passed to restrict Puritans
1650-52 Emergence of Quakers
1656 James Nayler Case
1661 Fifth Monarchists, Venner’s rising in London
1662 Act of Uniformity restoes High Church control
1664 First Conventicle Act
1665 Five Mile Act
1668 James Duke of York converts to Catholicism
1672-73 Declaration of Indulgence, attempt for toleration for Catholics
1678 Popish Plot
1679-82 Exclusion Crisis
1685 Accession of James II, Protestant Monmouth rebellion crushed
1688 2nd Declaration of Indulgence + Trial of Seven Bishops, William of Orange
invited + Glorious Revolution
Religious spectrum-
Areas of Belief Puritan/Calvinist Anglican Arminian Roman Catholic
Faith and Salvation by faith to Salvation by faith Salvation open to all Salvation open to all
salvation those predestined; alone who seek it through through the Catholic
shown by a willingness a true Church; God Church
to accept discipline and offers it to all,
a godly life mankind free to
accept or reject
Role of the To guide and teach Guidance through The Church guides The Catholic Church
Church according to the Bible. authority of the through a priesthood and its sacraments
Use discipline to support Church based on the given special status provide the path to
the godly and control Bible and symbolized by God; taking part
sinners robes and counts for salvation
ceremonies
Preaching and Preaching is the primary Preaching and Rituals and Ritual is part of
ritual function of the clergy, providing some ceremonies create worship and brings
supported by Bible study, rituals is the reverence and can people together
private prayer and function of the bring the ignorant to before God; only the
reading; rituals are a clergy. Rituals can God; beauty is in priesthood can
superstitious distraction support some itself an act of conduct rituals that
aspects of faith, e.g., reverence; preaching count for salvation
, baptism, Holy is useful, but so are
Communion set prayers and
rituals
Role of Bishops have no special Bishops have Bishops have a Bishops have a
bishops power; the true leader of authority to govern special authority special authority
the congregation is the the Church in the passed down from passed down from
minister, chosen by them, name of the Christ himself Christ through the
and a national Church monarch through St. Peter Papacy
should be led by a and the Church
committee of ministers before it went
astray; they receive
power of
enforcement from
the monarch
Attitude to Those in authority should Obedience is due to Obedience to The authority of the
authority be obeyed unless they higher authority authority in Church pope is from God;
threaten God's will and except on matters and state should be he is therefore
true religion essential to salvation complete; if you infallible, and
cannot obey in obedience is
conscience, you essential
must surrender to
punishment
Attitude to The Catholic Church is The Catholic Church The Catholic Church The authority of the
Catholic evil, seeking to corrupt is a threat to true is the early Church pope is from God;
Church true faith; the pope is the faith, but some misled by error; it is he is therefore
servant of the devil issues are not a sister Church like infallible, and
essential those set up by obedience is
Luther and Calvin; essential
they should all be
treated in the same
way
Confessional state- single national Church maintained by govt., with failure to attend seen as a
crime
Puritans- protestants who believe in predestination and that Protestantism was too focused on
rituals and superstition, didn’t stray far enough away from Catholicism
Presbyterian Kirk- established on Puritan principles and saw events around them as God’s
Providence
Laud’s policies and religious uniformity, 1625-40
Arminians- believed the Church of Rome was misguided, not evil. They wanted to get rid of
superstition but to keep enough ceremony and hierarchy, colour, statues and carvings in churches
and for the clergy to wear robes and symbols to keep hierarchy and respect
By 1625, signs of Arminianism came from Jacob Arminius, who challenged the Calvinist belief
of predestination. More accurately, Arminians were just anti-Calvinist. This was offensive to
Calvinists and Puritans as it went against beliefs that all men were spiritually equal before God,
people had a right to a direct relationship with God and gave lots of power to bishops.
, 1624 Richard Montagu publishes first public expression of Arminianism, attack on
Calvinist doctrine
1625 C. took Montagu under personal protection after complaints made in P.
1626 Proclamation issued by C. which forbade public discussion of sensitive religious
doctrine, seen as a restriction on preaching for Calvinists, doesn’t affect Arminians
1627 Archbishop of Canterbury Abbot briefly suspended for refusing to grant an
Arminian sermon
Fear of a proto-Catholic conspiracy was an overreaction from Puritan MPs e.g. Prynne.
However, C. meshed well with Arminians given his love of order and the arts, and their support
for royal authority due to respect for hierarchy. The reforms to come would alienate a large part
of the population. This was exacerbated by-
The Catholic Queen
Appointment of Catholics to offices in govt.
Catholic aggression in Europe
Dissenting ministers, e.g. Bastwick were brought before the Star Court for criticising Laud.
Laud’s reforms, 1628-40-
Organs installed, fonts decorated
Statues and colour returned to churches
Movement of the communion table from the centre to the east side, where the RC altar
always stood, looked like the RC doctrine of transubstantiation
In 1640, the opposition (Puritans) found their voice in parliament, attacking Laudian bishops.
There were complaints about their arrogance, pretentious lifestyles and attempts to impose their
own views. Other complaints were that bishops were taking high roles e.g. Laud as Privy
Counciller, depriving the nobility and gentry of roles, and doing the king’s wishes regardless of
the impact since they relied on royal favour.
Parliament’s re-ordering of the Church, 1640-60
Rejection of Arminianism in Long P. 1640-43-
Root and Branch Petition, 1640- Asked for the abolition of episcopacy (government of a church
by bishops and listed religious grievances e.g. restrictions on preaching, the encouragement of
Arminian and Catholic ideas
The opposition forced the king to remove bishops from the Privy Council and pass a bill to
exclude them in the HoL, but the attempt to abolish episcopacy failed. The activities of the Long
Parliament had limited significant impact on daily religious life before the civil war.
