Divisions over Religion during Personal Rule (1629-40)

CI and Laud demanded strict adherence to rules and the substitution of ritual and formality in place of the Puritan emphasis on individual prayer and preaching. Laud believed that a visit to churhc hsould be a stimulating experience for all the senses; this was reflected in his chnages to the fabric and ordering of churches: 

• Organs were installed and the singing of hymns was encouraged. 
• Fonts were decorated. 
• Statues and colour returned to churches. 
• Stained glass installed. 
• Communion table moved from the centre to the east end where the Roman Catholic alatar had stood. (Puritans were very against this) 

Laud aimed to enhance the power of the power of the Church hierarchy: 

• Ordered bishops to visit each of their parishes at least once every 3 years. 
• Archbishops were expected to report directly to CI. 
• A campaign against unlicencsed preaching was launched. 
• Priests given jobs as Justices of the Peace and number of bishops sat on the PC. 
• Prerogative courts (esp Star Chamber) were used to judge religious cases. Harsh punishments were inflicted on those who criticised Laud's reforms. 

1618 JI published Book of Sports (reissued by CI in 1633) which permitted people to take part in a number of approved activities on Sundays, in reaction to the established Puritan belief that only worship and spiritual reflection should take place on Sundays. 

The increasingly popular practice of Puritan gentry buying up the right to appoint a local minister or right to collect the tithes that formed his salary (impropriated tithes) was strictly forbidden by Laud. A group known as the Feoffees (who had organised his practice in order to appoint their favoured Puritan gentry, was forced to disband. 

Laud dismissed Puritan ministers and banned Puritan members of the gentry from appointing their own chaplains. Hundreds of clergy and roughly 20,000 Puritans emigrated to the North American colonies in the 1630s opposition to escape persecution. Congregations resented the economic cost of Laud's reforms. The restoration of organs and the beautifying of churches was an expensive undertaking and closely linked to Catholicism. 

Bastwick, Burton, Prynne: 

High profile Puritans who resisted Laud's reforms were presented for trial in the Star Chamber in 1637 after previous individual cases against them had been persued in the Church courts. 

• Bastwick was a doctor who wrote a number of tracts attacking bishops. SC had banned the production of news sheets in 32, and Laud took a personel interest in punishing those who continued to publish religious propaganda. 
• Burton was a minister whose sermons deviated from those approved by Laud. 
• Prynne was a lawyer who wrote 'Histriomastix' an attack on the theatre and actresses in 32. 
• All men were fined £5,000, imprisoned for life and ordered to have part of their ears cut off. They became martyrs for the cause.