1. Parliament's reordering of the Church, 1640-60 Flashcards
What did the abolition of Prerogative Courts in 1640 do?
- Centred on nature of the law
- Also removed some of the most repressive apparatus used to control the Church and the ability of individuals to discuss it
- Strength of the discontent generated by the reforms, and its limits, are both indicated in the struggle over the bishops
Root and Branch Petition
December 1640 - Commons received a petition supported by many in City of London - listed religious grievances relating to the treatment of the clergy:
- restrictions on preaching
- encouragement of Arminian and Catholic ideas
Asked for abolition of episcopacy - Covenanters in Scotland had already done this in 1638 - not surprising - given strength of Puritan support
Define episcopacy
Government of a church by bishops.
Attempts to abolish episcopacy
Those who were less radical, like the Anglican Edward Hyde, also complained about the Court of High Commission
Strength and depth of opposition - not least from Puritans - meant they could force king to remove bishops from Privy Council and pass bill excluding them from the Lords
Attempts to abolish episcopacy failed - therefore, Long Parliament had mixed success in reforming religion - but signing of Covenant w/ Scots in 1643 = more significant
Why was the signing of the Covenant w/ the Scots in 1643 so significant?
Opened possibility of establishing a Presbyterian Church in England.
Attempts to set up Presbyterian Church in England
Pym agreed to set up assembly of clergy - to draw up model to be established, rather than accept and implement Scottish version
Met in early 1644 - not until 1645 that parliament officially resolved to adopt Presbyterian model
1646 - parliament committees to get rid of episcopacy - but reformers started falling out w/ each other
Puritans, Presbyterians, independents and radical all arguing about best way forward
‘Apologetical Narration’
Presented by five members of the Westminster Assembly - appealed for the right to establish independent churches outside the national establishment
The Assembly in 1644 had thought it would be easy to set up a Presbyterian Church to create a ‘godly society’
What was the impact of an ‘Apologetical Narration’?
Set a precedent of creating pockets of independence outside the mainstream Church movements - authorities would never be able to control
Where was the breeding ground for new radical ideas in the 1640s?
Why?
New Model Army - normal methods of control within society limited during CW, creating fertile environment for creation and sharing of new ideas.
- NMA = highly mobile: picked up ideas from East Anglia and Lincolnshire
- NMA moved rapidly around country after the Battle of Naseby - its presence stimulated or emboldened existing religious groups
- Army Chaplains - such as John Canne in Hull - set up new congregations
What was the reaction of Presbyterian leaders in parliament to the radicalism of the NMA?
Hostile and ultimately counter-productive
- Attempt to disband NMA in in 1647 led directly to its politicisation and end of hopes for a national Presbyterian Church
Why was there a collapse of Presbyterian hopes, due to Charles I?
He was never likely to agree to meaningful changes anyway - the sight of his enemies squabbling with one another strengthened his resolve and led to the renewal of Civil War in 1648 (in turn led to Pride’s Purge then king’s execution)
How did Charles I’s death spark a new and even more dangerous wave of radical ideas and groups?
(Unlike independents and baptists - who had relatively organised Churches, despite Puritan principles) These new ideas rejected any external authority over the conscience of individuals and demanded complete religious toleration for all.
What was the impact of the emergence of radical groups after Charles I was executed?
- Provoked conservative reaction that was intense and widespread
- A harsh Blasphemy Act passed in 1650 - subjected radical religious activity to severe penalties
Why were many of the more eccentric groups in the 1650s short-lived?
What was the exception to this?
- Prone to internal dissent - weren’t very well organised
- Died out w/ death or imprisonment of the inspiring leaders who created them
Exception - Quaker movement
Quaker movement
- Spread rapidly in North from 1650-52
- Leader: George Fox
- Sent out preachers to convert other areas in 1654
What happened to soldiers when the fighting in Ireland and Scotland ceased?
Returned to their civilian lives
- The more extreme of those who remained subjected to discipline or forced to resign in a series of purges - carried out by Council of Officers
Why was freedom of worship intolerable?
Seen as too radical and dangerous
John Goodwin and Phillip Nye
Independent ministers - helped write the Apologetical Narration
- Determined to maintain the right of their congregations to govern themselves - but otherwise said they were very much in line w/ Presbyterian majority
How was a widespread desire for a restoration of religious and social discipline demonstrated across the country, by 1660?
Especially in the City of London - due to the shock of regicide and the upheavals that followed
What were the 3 aims of Cromwell after the dissolution of the Rump and failure of the Barebones Parliament?
- To reform govt
- To help build a godly society
- To encourage a ‘reformation of manners’ - ensuring that people adhere to the word of God and lived morally virtuous lives
Triers and Ejectors
2 committees that controlled the Church - ensured that ministers who served in it were competent, well-educated and capable of preaching the word of God.
How did the Church continue to function during the years of the Commonwealth?
Used a variety of practices based on the preference of individual ministers and their communities
Those who met outside the Church were largely left in peace as long as they were discreet
What was the impact of Triers and Ejectors?
Presbyterian and moderate Anglican ministers found employment
- A number of independents served as parish ministers while also meeting their own Church members in a separate place - ignored parish boundaries and drew their members from a wide area
The Calvinists sects were able to meet and worship outside the Church with relative impunity
How was Cromwell averse to persecution? Impact?
Believed that all people were entitled to find their own way to God as long as they didn’t cause harm to others
By definition - Catholic and Arminians did pose a risk (sought to impose their views) - those who utilised traditional forms could often continue their own way - as long as they were discreet
Why, and to what extent, were Quakers subjected to persecution by Cromwell?
They tried to spread their views - but in remote areas their meetings were often left in peace
Cromwell objected to treatment of James Nayler
James Nayler
Nayler - an early Quaker minister who was inclined to extravagant gestures, including appearing naked to demonstrate their purity of mind
Palm Sunday 1656 - rode a donkey into Bristol, accompanied by female Quakers who strewed branches and flowers in his path in a re-enactment of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem
Nayler case
Nayler accused of blasphemy - some MPs called for execution - Cromwell said he was foolish rather than evil.
He challenged parliament’s right to inflict death sentence - couldn’t prevented Nayler being flogged in public, bored through the tongue and imprisoned
