1. Laud's policies and religious uniformity, 1625-40 Flashcards
What signs of change were there within the Church of England in 1625?
- Growth of an Arminian theology among a section of the clergy - derived from Dutch theologian, Jacob Arminius - challenged the Calvinist doctrine of predestination
Why would it be more accurate to label the English Arminians as simply anti-calvinist?
Their attack on Calvinist practice went well beyond the issues of predestination and free will.
Signs of an anti-calvinist reaction on a number of issues by the early 1620s - not least on the part of James himself - found the strident anti-Catholic reaction of many Calvinist in, and out of, parliaments to be an irritating restriction on his pursuit of rational policies at home and abroad.
How was anti-Catholic feeling already well established in 1625?
England’s great rivals, France and Spain, were ruled by Catholic monarchies - among these Anabaptist churches in Holland which came to influence English refugees who fled from James’ drive for conformity between 1603 and 1610 - led to founding of English Baptists when some returned to England in 1612.
Why were many Protestants anti-Catholic?
The Catholic Church, to them, was a force for evil - which had corrupted the early Christian Church and destroyed the essential doctrines of salvation by faith
How were the English Arminians able to develop and gain traction, considering the anti-Catholic sentiment in 1625?
- Jacob Arminius claimed that the Church of Rome was mistaken and misguided rather than evil
- English Arminians - built on claims that the Anglican Church had found the correct balance in stripping out the more superstitious and misleading elements to restore the purity of the early faith - while retaining enough ceremony and hierarchy to ensure order and respect
Therefore - argued that churches should be decorated w/ colour, statues, ornate carings of the early Church + clergy should wear robes and symbols of their office to ensure respect
Why did rising Arminian influence in the Church of England anger many?
1) Elevating the clergy to a special status challenged the accepted Protestant belief that all men were spiritually equal before God
2) Raised fears of a desire to restore the clergy’s role and authority as dispensers of God’s grace, able to command obedience
3) The theology and practice put forward by the English Arminians was offensive to Puritans and many others in 2 ways:
- Threatened rights of the individual to a direct relationship w/ God
- Reeked of Catholicism
Where, and when, did the first public expression of Arminian ideas appear?
What did this lead to?
1624 - Richard Montagu published an attack on Calvinist doctrine entitled ‘A New Gag for an old Goose’
- Complaints made against him in parliament in 1625 - Charles took him under his personal protection with a place at court
Why, in 1625, had the atmosphere and arrangements already changed since the death of James?
- New emphasis on formality and order
- Appointment of a succession of Arminian clergy to the role of royal chaplain - seemed to confirm drift of policy
Conference in 1626 at York House
Home of the Duke of Buckingham (high profile Arminian
- Debate between the Arminians and their opposition - resulted in no change of policy on Charles’ part
What did religious restriction did Charles impose in 1626, after he dissolved parliament?
Issued a proclamation that forbade the public discussion of sensitive religious doctrine - interpreted as a restriction on preaching
- Would affect Calvinists and other Protestants far more than those, like Arminians, who favoured formal prayers and ritualised responses
George Abbot
The Archbishop of Canterbury - briefly suspended in 1627 for refusing to grant an Arminian sermon, and William Laud, the Arminian leader, was appointed to the Privy Council a year later
William Laud
1573-1645
- Entered church as a career - advanced quickly - ordained in 1601 - served as chaplain to the Earl of Devonshire - promoted to a royal chaplaincy by James 1608
- Associated w/ Buckingham - become Bishop of St. David’s in 1621 - access to real influence came in 1625 - friendship w/ Charles I
- Encouraged king to promote Arminian clerics only - to ensure reform of the Church and weaken Calvinist influence
Interesting in creating a regime that ensured order, decency and respect for God and for the Church itself - decoration and elevation of clergy served that purpose
Why were Arminians Charles’ natural companions in religion?
His personality, love of order and interest in the arts, and given Arminian’s respect for hierarchy and dislike of Puritan attitudes + support for royal authority
The religious reforms made by Charles and Laud alienated a large section of the population - what exacerbated this situation?
The existence and behaviour of an actively Catholic queen, appointment of Catholics to important offices in govt and background of Catholic aggression in Europe.
Neither Charles nor Laud were Catholic - but the changes they were making in the 1630s raised fears that they might be and that they were making the Church of England an institution that Catholics could find a place and work towards further change.
When did Laud become Archbishop of Canterbury? What did this result in?
1633 - his programme began to take effect:
- New instructions enforced by local bishops in every diocese - focused on decoration of churches and conformity of the clergy but, by implication, also affect the role and status of bishops
