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 Church of England + restore bishops in the Worcester House Declaration - details to be worked out by the Savoy House Conference in 1661
What was the aim and MPs and ministers in 1660, supported by Charles II?
Hoped that differences could be resolved - and a broad, flexible national Church could be established.
What is an example of having a broad flexible national Church?
Richard Baxter, a prominent Presbyterian, offered role as a bishop - as were number of moderate Anglicans - now Latitudinarians - due to support for allowing latitude, or width, in defining acceptable beliefs
Why was there a failure to establish a broad church?
2 events soured atmosphere:
1) Fifth Monarchist Rising in Jan 1661 - gave new life to old fear of religious radicals - it failed but reinforced the danger of radicalism and led to a conservative backlash
2) Election of Cavalier Parliament - bent on revenge against the Puritans and Presbyterians
What was the result of the failure to establish a broad church?
The Savoy Conference broke up in May 1661 - without agreement - dominated by Gilbert Sheldon, Bishop of London
- His Arminian supporters - determined to return to a Laudian model for the Church - to drive out those wouldn’t conform
How did the Arminians and the anti-Puritan Cavalier Parliament gain control?
1) Efforts of moderates to resist Sheldon and High Church advocates hampered by Presbyterians getting bogged down in debates about relatively minor issues
2) So decisions about the nature of belief, role of the Prayer Book and requirements demanded from the clergy left in the hands of Arminians and the Cavalier Parliament
What did the Act of Uniformity 1662 do?
1) Imposed formality, rituals, priestly roles and episcopal control
2) Resulted in restriction of non-conformist from Church appointments - driving 1,800 ministers from their livings
Who was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury into 1663?
Gilbert Sheldon
In the restoration, what was reversed that was of great significance?
Anglicans had been replaced by Puritans in the 1640s and 50s - this was reversed
What did the bishops appointed in 1660 begin to do?
Ordain ministers + recreate the machinery of the Church courts
What was the impact of the Act of Uniformity?
- Those non-conformists - who survived in their livings - now faced with 3 requirements designed to make their continued service impossible:
1) Had to be re-ordained if they hadn’t originally been ordained by a bishop
2) Had to renounce the Presbyterian Covenant
3) Had to accept every element of the Prayer Book
Act of Uniformity - a full-scale act of retribution against Puritans - was also a political act, motivated by dislike of dissent and a conviction that the right form of govt was based on alliance between Church and king historian Mark Goldie
What did the Corporation Act 1661 do?
Laid down the requirement of conformity by insisting anyone holding a position in local govt had to take the Anglican Holy Communion - later extended to the universities
- Social, intellectual and political elites to be predominantly Anglican
What happened when Charles II attempted to suspend the Act of Uniformity?
Issued a First Declaration of Indulgence - offered religious toleration.
- Was defeated by combination of bishops and cavalier MPs
Charles powerless to prevent persecution that followed
What was the Clarendon Code?
4 acts designed to restrict non-conformists - work of the same Anglican alliance.
What did a second Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 lead to?
A Test Act - increased requirement for conformity - led to resignation of king’s brother - James Duke of York - from his post as Lord High Admiral.
