Parliament's Re-ordering of the Church, 1640-60

Question 1

What did the Root and Branch Petition demand?

Answer 1

Dec 1640 - Abolition of episcopacy - signed by 15,000 in City of London.

In protest of:

• The treatment of the clergy
• Restrictions on preaching
• Encouragement of Arminian and Catholic ideas

Question 2

Why did the Long Parliament have mixed success in reforming religion?

Answer 2

Strength of and depth of opposition - not least from Puritans - meant they:

1) Could force Charles to remove bishops from Privy Council
2) Could pass bill excluding them from Lords

Influence limited - failed in their attempt to abolish episcopacy

Question 3

What is episcopacy?

Answer 3

Govt of a church by bishops

Question 4

What was more significant than religious reform by the Long Parliament?

Answer 4

The signing of the Covenant with the Scots in 1643

Question 5

Why was there limited support for a Presbyterian Church?

Answer 5

1) Limited support for change - even among conservative Puritans

Question 6

What did the signing of the Covenant with the Scots lead to?

Answer 6

Discussions over possibly establishing the Presbyterian Church in England - reached no firm conclusions

1) Assembly of Clergy - set up by Pym - to meet in Westminster - draw up model to be established
2) Didn’t accept and implement the Scottish version straightaway
3) Covenant worked as a delaying tactic

Question 7

When did the new Assembly - set up by Pym - meet?

Answer 7

1644 - but not until 1645 that parliament officially resolved to adopt a Presbyterian model.

Question 8

Why did members of Parliament fall out with each?

Answer 8

Puritans, Presbyterians, independents and radical all argued about the best way forward - given that, in 1646, they were committed to getting rid of episcopacy

Question 9

Why was the ‘Apologetical Narration’?

Answer 9

Westminster Assembly - in 1644 - thought it would be easy to set up Presbyterian Church to create ‘godly society’

But 5 members presented an ‘Apologetical Narration’ - appealed for right to establish independent churches outside the national establishment

Question 10

What did the ‘Apologetical Narration’ set a precedent of?

Answer 10

Of creating pockets of independence outside the mainstream Church movements - which the authorities would never really be able to control

Question 11

Where proved to be the breeding ground for new radical ideas? Why?

Answer 11

The New Model Army
- Normal methods of control within society limited during Civil War - created a fertile environment for creation and sharing of new ideas

Question 12

What did the New Model Army attempt to establish?

Answer 12

A national Presbyterian Church - dangerous because it was highly mobile - picked up ideas from East Anglia and Lincolnshire

Question 13

How did the presence of the New Model Army stimulate and embolden existing religious groups and encourage further conversions?

Answer 13

1) The army moved rapidly around the country after the Battle of Naseby - mopping up Royalist resistance.
2) Army chaplains - such as John Canne in Hull - set up new congregations
3) Others simply encouraged new ideas and conversions

Question 14

How did Presbyterian leaders in parliament react to the radicalism of the New Model Army?

Answer 14

Tried to push back - but this was counter-productive and made the situation worse

Question 15

What did the attempt to disband the army in 1647 lead to?

Answer 15

1) Politicisation of the New Model Army
2) End of any hopes for a national Presbyterian Church
3) King’s enemies squabbling with one another strengthened his resolve - led to renewal of Civil War in 1648
4) Civil War led to Pride’s Purge - and Charles’s execution

Question 16

What did the king’s death, in 1649, spark?

Answer 16

A new and even more dangerous wave of radical ideas of groups
- These new ideas rejected any external authority over the conscience of individuals and demanded complete religious toleration for all - unlike the independents and Baptists

Question 17

What are Baptists?

Answer 17

Starting in early 17th century - a Baptist Church became identifiable as it carried out the practice of ‘believer’s baptism’ - where a person could only be baptised if they were able to understand and profess their beliefs - usually as an adult
- Infant baptism seen as unnecessary

Question 18

What was the impact of radical groups after 1649?

Answer 18

1) Provoked conservative reaction - intense and widespread
2) Blasphemy Act 1650 - subjected radical religious activity to serve penalties
3) More eccentric groups short-lived - prone to internal dissent - dying out with the death or imprisonment of inspiring leaders
4) Quaker movement spread rapidly in the North in 1650-52 - under George Fox - sent out preachers to convert other areas in 1654

Question 19

What happened after fighting in Ireland and Scotland ceased?

Answer 19

1) Many soldiers returned to civilian lives
2) More extreme of those who remained subject to discipline or forced to resign in a series of purges - carried out by the Council of Officers

Question 20

How did more independent Churches arise after 1649?

Answer 20

1) Sympathy for godly men - who desired toleration of their own Churches - didn’t mean complete freedom of worship (too radical and dangerous)
2) Independent ministers - such as John Goodwin and Phillip Nye - helped write ‘Apologetical Narration’ - determined to maintain right of congregations to govern themselves - otherwise said they were very much in line with Presbyterian majority

Question 21

Why was their widespread desire for a restoration of religious and social discipline after the war?

Answer 21

Due to regicide and the many upheavals that followed.

Question 22

What were Cromwell’s 3 aims when he took power after the dissolution of the Rump and failure of the Barebones Parliament?

Answer 22

1) to reform govt
2) to help build a godly society
3) to encourage a ‘reformation of manners’ - ensuring that people adhered to the word of God and lived morally virtuous lives

His preference was for sensible compromise

Question 23

Who were the Triers and Ejectors?

Answer 23

Two committees of ministers who controlled the Church - role was to ensure that ministers who served in it were competent, well-educated and capable of preaching the word of God.
- Ignored parish boundaries - drew members from a wide area

Therefore - Calvinist sects able to meet and worship outside Church with relative impunity

Question 24

How did the Triers and Ejectors benefit Presbyterian and moderate Anglican ministers?

Answer 24

They found employment.

Question 25

Why was Cromwell adverse to persecution?

Answer 25

Cromwell was averse to persecution - believed that all entitled to find their own way to God so long as they didn’t cause harm to others

Question 26

Which groups posed a risk to others during Cromwell’s reign?

Answer 26

Catholic and Arminian Churches - they sought to impose their views 0

Question 27

What was the treatment of Quakers by Cromwell’s regime?

Answer 27

Subject to persecution - tried to spread their views - but in remote areas their meetings were often left in peace.

Question 28

Who was James Nayler?

Answer 28

Quaker minister
- Palm Sunday 1656 - rode a donkey into Bristol - accompanied by female Quakers who strewed branches and flowers in his path - re-enactment of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem

Question 29

Why, in 1656-57, did Cromwell object to the treatment of Nayler imposed by parliament.

Answer 29

Argued Nayler was foolish rather than evil.

Question 30

Why was the Nayler case significant?

Answer 30

For the attitudes it revealed and as a forerunner for what was to come.

Nayler was one of the early Quaker ministers who was inclined to extravagant gestures - including appearing naked to demonstrate purity of mind.

Question 31

How did the Nayler situation end?

Answer 31

Cromwell challenged parliament - but coulldn’t prevent Nayler being flogged in public bored through the tongue and imprisoned.

Reflected a widespread fear, especially among the elites - that such unconventional behaviour threatened the moral and social discipline upon which good order depended.