Why did religious dissent and non-conformity increase in the yrs 1625-1688?

Question 1

background info on the emergency of puritan sects

Answer 1

during elizabeth reign = opposed , however they remained withinn the church as they only supported anglican doctrine = reflect theirs

• opposed ritual that retained catholic feature and sough to implement a more purified for of worship
• Browne set up congregationalist/independent in norwich = arrested
• slow emergence of independent churches from 1600 onwards = who left church. e.g John Robinson + john dmyth educated gathered groups = friven into exile along with ramnants of group led by lsy preacher = henry jacob
• gained money in holland to buy ship = make it to new england colony 1620 = church they established = fellow puritans due to laud persecution. – 1616 jacob returned est congretalist church by 1640 - 8 churches

Question 2

Long-term effect of Cromwell’s policies?

Answer 2

> CO policies = broad religious toleration for non-threatening groups (Indep+baptist) = more organised groups , set core beliefs, setting up national organisations.

> groups were better equipped and ready to withstand renewed peresecution after 1660.

Question 3

Renewed persecution after 1660 anglican church more agressive than laud?

Answer 3

CLARENDON CODE

• Corporate Act 1661 - bans non conformist from local gov
• Act of uniformity 1662 - excluded non conformist froms Church officed = 1,800
• Conventical act 1664 - forbade religious meeting of more than 5 ppl outside of church
• Five mile act 1665 - clergy had to live at least 5 miles from parish - been expelled from

Question 4

Resilience of non-conformists after 1660: Presbyterian

Answer 4

Appeared to have develpo new networks of perosnal contacts that allowed them to create informal association of minister
MORE SIGNIFICATLY,

ESTBALISHINH ACADEMY 1669 TO EDUCATIE POTENTIAL NEW Clergy =due to growing concern with declining clergy available to support the meetings that existed led dissenters to consider how to provide replacements. = shows them adapting to the situation

Question 5

Resilience of non-conformists after 1660: Quakers

Answer 5

faced serious persecution - leader imprisoned from 1661-64 = organisation shattered + movement on verge collapse

George Fox released 1666 = re-established in more centralised way

different congregations were self-sufficient and didn’t require order from a central office, new system = org more disciplined+ org by placing Quakers under greater control committee in London

The situation that existed in 1669 was reflected in the reaction of Gilbert Sheldon, by now Archbishop of Canterbury in campaigning for a renewal of the Conventicle Act.

Question 6

Failure by Sheldon to renew persecution after 1669?

Answer 6

• conventical act expired in 1667 = sheldon campaign for renewal = shows there is still rising dissent in which needed firm action
  1670 second conentical act passed - limited impact + chnaging attitudes of outside that rank of dissenters as thye saw them peacful + respectable neighbours.

Question 7

sympathy for dissenter 1660s

Answer 7

• some anglican in the church (latitudrianriesm) believed it was ratinal + sensible to have some variation in religious beliefs e.g bishop wilkins who argued persecution was counter-productive
• Many of those who conformed were not very different in their beliefs to non-conformists and were aware of this fact as they only conformed as there was no choice.
• Many among the ruling classes who were responsible for enforcing laws shared these views and tried to help individual ministers

Question 8

sympathy for dissenter 1660s

Answer 8

• some Anglican in the church (latitudinarianism) believed it was rational + sensible to have some variation in religious beliefs e.g bishop wilkins who argued persecution was counter-productive
• Many of those who conformed were not very different in their beliefs to non-conformists and were aware of this fact as they only conformed as there was no choice.
• Many among the ruling classes who were responsible for enforcing laws shared these views and tried to help individual ministers
  = Rich benefactors often provided incomes and accommodations to ejected clergymen e.g. Ward, ejected in York, was provided with an income + accommodation by sir john = continued to preach privately. mainly Presbyterians but sometimes independent congregations

Question 9

Impact of the declaration of indulgence 1672 charles actions?

Answer 9

• suspended laws of clarendon code = alowed dissenters freedom not to attend church = meet in their own licenesed gatherings - many licensed were not reversed until 1675 + some never reversed
• Gave groups + devlopment opportunity ti build meetings houses, form associations + development education/training
• p taking out licensesw by presbyterian - 1673 never
• Allowed development of networks + presbyterian are accepting thier future.

Question 10

Failure of renewed persecution between 1683-86

Answer 10

3. From 1678-83, the impact of the Popish Plot and Exclusion Crisis cemented an alliance between dissenters and the Whig allies.
   4 . In 1682-83, the failure of the Exclusion, the Rye House Plot and the collapse of Whig support freed Charles to renew the attack dissenters.
   5 . The persecution of 1683-86 was the harshest ever experienced in many areas- Quakers had to move meetings to most remote places. night time

6 . When persecution ceased in 1686, its failure was apparent in the speed with which dissenters reemerged and took up their spiritual life.

Question 11

persecution renewed between 1683-6

Answer 11

Ended with the arrival of JII = more sympathetic and its apparent in the speed with which dissenters re-emerged , reconstituted their organisations

Despite strength of persecution, dissenting groups had become much organised over time + able to with stand it + public opinion shifted away from the desire of uniformity

They often failed refused to full co-operated and carry out orders e.g. Earl of Plymouth ordered his local courts to enforce the laws against dissenters however one alderman threatened to resign (they peaceful)

Question 12

CONCSLUSION; WHY DID THE DISSENTERS SURVIVE THE YEARS OF PERSECUTION?

Answer 12

• commitment and dedication of those who left church to their beliefs and their need to retain them
• Level of support by sympathisers -
• No mistakes made their enemies, - define unifmornity on narrow basis, = increasing the no and range of those who became dissenters.