Laud and Arminianism

Question 1

Laud and Arminiamism

What was the hierarchy of bishops in the Church of England?

Answer 1

Bishops report to either the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Archbishop of York, with Canterbury ranking higher.

Question 2

Laud and Arminiamism

What were the duties of bishops in the Church of England?

Answer 2

Bishops oversee parishes and priests in their diocese, assisted by Archdeacons.

Question 3

Laud and Arminianism

What is the terminology related to bishops and their governance?

Answer 3

• Diocese: A bishopric or see.
• Episcopal: Related to bishops.
• Episcopacy: A system of governance by bishops.

Question 4

Laud and Arminianism

Who led the hierarchy of bishops under the archbishoprics during this period?

Answer 4

The Bishop of London.

Question 5

What were William Laud’s major appointments under Charles I?

Answer 5

• Dean of the Chapel Royal (1626).
• Bishop of London (1628).
• Archbishop of Canterbury (1633).

Question 6

Why was Laud rapidly promoted under Charles I?

Answer 6

Charles admired Laud’s emphasis on order and ceremony in the Church.

Question 7

What theological principles influenced William Laud?

Answer 7

Laud was influenced by Arminian theology, emphasizing free will, ceremonial worship, beauty in church services, and the importance of sacraments.

Question 8

How did “Laudianism” differ from traditional Arminianism?

Answer 8

Laudianism extended beyond Arminian theology, blending it with Laud’s authoritarian approach to church governance.

Question 9

What was the focus of Laudian reforms?

Answer 9

Hierarchy, authority, and ceremonial practices, reflecting Charles I’s values of order and structure.

Question 10

Why was Laud significant as the Bishop of London?

Answer 10

He became the most powerful clergyman due to Archbishop Abbot’s ineffectiveness and shaped the Anglican Church during the 1630s.

Question 11

How did Arminianism maintain continuity with pre-Reformation Catholic practices?

Answer 11

By emphasising ceremony and hierarchy, setting it apart from Calvinist austerity.

Question 12

How did Laud’s reforms mark a departure from Calvinist dominance?

Answer 12

They challenged the Protestant orthodoxy established under Elizabeth I, symbolising a shift in church-state relations.

Question 13

What caused Charles I’s support for Arminianism?

Answer 13

Its alignment with his belief in the divine right of kings and desire for an orderly, hierarchical society.

Question 14

What were the effects of Laud’s reforms?

Answer 14

They polarised society, exacerbated tensions between Puritans and Anglicans, and contributed to distrust in Charles I’s governance.

Question 15

Why was 1628 a turning point in Laud’s career?

Answer 15

His appointment as Bishop of London made him the most powerful cleric, enabling him to implement reforms nationally.

Question 16

How were Arminianism and Catholicism similar?

Answer 16

Both emphasised hierarchy, ceremony, and sacraments, leading to perceptions of Arminianism as covert Catholicism.

Question 17

How did Arminianism differ from Puritanism?

Answer 17

Arminianism rejected predestination and emphasised free will, while Puritanism adhered to strict predestinarian doctrine.

Question 18

What was the religious significance of Laud’s association with Arminianism?

Answer 18

It challenged England’s Protestant identity and intensified divisions leading to civil war.

Question 19

What was the political significance of Arminianism under Charles I?

Answer 19

It symbolised royal absolutism and highlighted the alignment between religious dissent and political resistance.

Question 20

What is Anthony Milton’s interpretation of Laud’s reforms?

Answer 20

Milton views Laud as a sincere religious reformer committed to Anglican identity, seeing Arminianism as a legitimate Protestant strand.

Question 21

How does Conrad Russell interpret Laud’s reforms?

Answer 21

Russell portrays Laud as part of Charles I’s absolutist agenda, using Arminianism to consolidate royal power.

Question 22

What does John Morrill emphasize about opposition to Laud’s reforms?

Answer 22

Morrill highlights fears of “popery,” which fueled cultural and symbolic opposition to Laudianism.

Question 23

What is Christopher Hill’s Marxist interpretation of Laud’s role?

Answer 23

Hill sees Laud’s reforms as a flashpoint in a class struggle between the feudal monarchy and a rising bourgeoisie.

Question 24

How does Peter Lake’s revisionist approach reassess Laud?

Answer 24

Lake argues that Laud’s vision was a coherent balance of tradition and innovation within Anglicanism, reflecting broader crises.

Question 25

Was Laud’s promotion of Arminianism theological or political?

Answer 25

Historians debate whether it was primarily a theological conviction or a tool for royal absolutism.