Religious impact Flashcards
How and why did the Toleration act 1689 come into force?
- Anglican churchmen wanted to ensure unformity
- William favoured toleration and was suspicious of the Anglican Church
- Likewise tories were suspcious that William wanted to impose Dutch calvinism
- Compromise - toleration act - enforced demands for uniformity, middle path
Who was excluded from the toleration Act and why?
Catholics - not Anglicans, protected as William had alliances with a number of Catholic powers against France
Jews & Non-Trinitarians- Not Anglican
Toleration Act 1689 - dissenters
Were exempt from punishments if they swore the oath of Alliegance to the crown and accepted the 1678 test Act
Toleration Act - 1689 Refusal
Refusal to swear alliegance meant people could not attend university, work in the legal profession or practice medicine
Toleration Act 1689 - Tithes
Dissenters had to pay tithes to the Church which they did not attend nor belong to
Toleration Act 1689 - Meetings
Dissenter meetings to be closely monitored - doors opened
Toleration act 1689 - allowances
Dispensations made for dissenting groups, Quakers who refused to take oaths were allowed to deny the Pope’s authority instead
Test Act 1678
All members of parliament required to take oaths before they could take their seats
How was the Anglican church and state undermined?
- CoE could not enforce complete conformity some allowances made for dissenters - made up 8% of population by 1714
- William used his royal authority to influence judges and prevent Church interference in lives of Catholics and others no covered under toleration act
- Power of Church courts was restricted by toleration act
- Toleration act was passed with no debate over it
How was the Anglican Church not undermined?
To join a public office, oath of alliegence had to be sworn to the Crown & take Anglican communion
Anglicans maintained key powerful and influential positions in society - no dissenting influence in prominent positions
