Religion: conflict and dissent, 1625-88

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THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND 

Laud's policies and religious uniformity 

  • Anglicanism- the 'middle way' religion of the UK whcih combined some aspects of Catholicism (such as priest vestments and insence) and european Protestanism. This was an uneasy comprimise- but had ensured religious peace form many years. 
  • Arminianism- set of beliefs which promoted the traditional Catholic belief of free will, and the denial of predestination. 
  • Puritans were Anglicans- who opposed the Catholic elements of services. They wanted to purify services to simplicity. They were believers in predestination- that God had already chosen their fate. 
  • 1633 William Laud promoted to Archbishop of Canterbury by Charles I. He was a prominant Arminan and worked towards making reforms which were to be enforced by bishops. For example, Laud restored organs, decoration of fonts, intallation of stained glass windows. These reforms symbolised a move closer to Catholicism- which angered Puritans. 
  • Laud used the church courts to punish- by fines or imprisonment, those who would not implement Laudianism. Many of the Puritan clergy would not accept these changes and thousands emigrated to America where they could worship without fear of persecution. 
  • Many of the gentry opposed Lauds actions- many of these were strongly Calvinist and believed that the reforms were disrupting the Elizabethan 'middle way'. In 1637 opposition grew with the trial of Pyrnne, Bastwick and Burton- whos punishment many felt was out of proportion to their offense of publishing attacks on bishops. 

Parliment's reordering of the church 1640-60

  • In 1640 opposition to Charles within parliment launched an attack on the bishops. 
  • In December the Root and Branch petition basically asked for the abolition for a church governed by bishops (an episcopacy). This led to bishops being removed from the privy council and the house of lords- but not abolished entirely. 
  • In 1643 a convant was signed with Scotland- where the Scots would aid parliment in return for leaving the Scottish church alone). The following year parliment resolved that the governemnt of the Church would be Pyresbytarian. 
  • In 1644, five members of the assembly set up to draw up the model of Prysbytarian organisation presented an appeal for the right to establish an independant church- this was rejected. 
  • The NMA had become a 'breeding ground' for the spread of radical ideas and after Charles' attempts in 1647 to disband the army it lead to its politicisation and caused a collapse of hopes for a presbytarian church. 
  • In 1650 radical ideas led to increased conservatism and the Blasphemy Act was published which gave severe penalties for radical religious activity. 
  • In 1650 the toleration act removed the requirement for people to attend chuch at least once a week. This led to the growth of new religious groups. 
  • Cromwell wanted to bring about religious and social reformation- by establishing a Godly rule and improving public morality based on the ideas of the Puritans. 
  • The Instrument of Government 1653 granted liberty of worship to all execpt Catholics and extreme Protestant sects, 
  • The Church was placed under two commitees…

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