1. The Restoration of Anglicanism in 1660-62 and its dominant position in religious life Flashcards
What did fear of chaos and disorder lead to in 1660?
The Convention Parliament
- to re-establish the Church and England
- to restore the bishops in the Worcester House Declaration - leaving details to be worked out by the Savoy House Conference in 1661
What was the general aim of MPs and ministers in 1660?
Hoped that differences could be resolved, and a broad, flexible national Church could be established - an aim supported by Charles II
Richard Baxter
A prominent Presbyterian - offered role as a bishop - as were a number of moderate Anglicans now known as Latitudinarians
Latitudinarians
Support for allowing latitude, or width, in defining acceptable beliefs
What 2 events soured the atmosphere and prevented the creation of broad inclusive Church?
- Fifth Monarchist Rising - Jan 1661 - gave new life to the old fear of religious radicals - it failed, but reinforced danger of radicalism and led to a conservative backlash
- Resulted in election of the Cavalier Parliament - bent on revenge against Puritans and Presbyterians
How, why, and when, did the Savoy Conference end?
May 1661 - broke up without agreement - dominated by Gilbert Sheldon, Bishop of London, and his Arminian supporters
- They were determined to return to a Laudian model for the Church and drive out those who wouldn’t conform
Why were the moderates attempts to resist Sheldon and Arminians unsuccessful?
- Their efforts hampered by Presbyterians getting bogged down in debates about relatively minor issues
What did the collapse of the Savoy Conference result in?
- Decisions about nature of belief, role of the Prayer Book and requirements demanded from the clergy were left in hands of the Arminians and the anti-Puritan Cavalier Parliament
Act of Uniformity 1662
- Imposed formality, rituals, priestly robes and episcopal control
- Resulted in restriction of non-conformists from Church appointments and driving 1,800 ministers from their livings
In parishes where Anglicans had been replaced by Puritans in 1640s and 50s - this was reversed
What did the bishops appointed in 1660 begin to do after the Act of Uniformity?
They began to ordain ministers and recreate the machinery of the Church courts
How did the Act of Uniformity 1662 impact non-Conformists?
Faced 3 requirements designed to make their continued service impossible:
1) If they hadn’t originally been ordained by a bishop - had to be re-ordained (emphasised power of bishops and suggested that non-conformists’ previous ministry was invalid)
2) Had to renounce the Presbyterian Covenant - many had sworn an oath of loyalty to
3) Had to accept every element of the Prayer Book
The Act of Uniformity was a full-scale act of retribution against…
Puritans - drive from the Church many people who dearly wished to stay within it
For those who drew it up, the Act of Uniformity was a…
What’s the counter-argument to this?
declaration and defence of the Anglican faith developed by Laud, a balanced and ordered Church midway between the corruptions of Catholicism and anarchy of Puritanism
However - was a political act, motivated by dislike of dissent in any form and conviction that the right form of governance in Church and state was based on a firm alliance between Church and king
How was the Anglican Church socially dominant and politically significant after the Restoration, as well as due to the Act of Uniformity?
Corporation Act 1661 - laid down requirement of conformity by insisting anyone holding a position in local govt had to take the Anglican Holy Communion - later extended to universities
The social, intellectual and political elites to be predominantly Anglican again
Did Charles II offer unconditional support and approval to the elites in Church and state?
No - but overall, he was obliged to comply
