Religious policy of Charles I in the 1630s

What were peoples reactions to changes?
1. Many people were happy with the changes to the Anglican Church itself. They believed it managed to be less dull for the ordinary people without being too showy
2. Created a lot of opposition with local lords and nobility as they did not want to return their land.
  1. Also resentment of the clergy being granted important positions they would normally receive
3. Puritans were the most prominent critics
  1. Bitterly opposed to the Catholic Church. Believed that the Anglican church should be reformed to be simpler, yet the changes made appeared more Catholic in nature
  2. Disliked Bishops
    1. Catholic church had Bishops
    2. Bishops enacted Charles' reforms
  3. Mutual hatred between them and Laud
    1. 1937, Prynne, Burton, Bastwick released pamphlets against Laud. Laud had them arrested, their ears chopped off, branded their faces with a red iron and imprisoned them for life
      1. Evoked sympathy with the Puritans and also increased their hatred of Bishops
      2. They became Puritan Martyrs
    2. Laud saw Puritanism as a greater threat to Anglicanism than Catholicism
  4. Not a majority denomination, however were powerful and influential.
    1. Mostly Gentry/Landed classes
    2. Educated... Successful in business
  5. Determined with the belief God was on their side. They were willing to push their beliefs.
What happened in Scotland?
1. 1637, Charles I and Laud insisted Scotland use the new prayer books
  1. This was in attempt to uniform the Kingdom
2. Scots resented interference and found the reforms insensitive
  1. When it was first used in Edinburgh in July 1637 there was a riot
    1. Scottish opponents signed a Covenant against Charles I criticising him
      1. Charles marched North but was defeated in 1638 and again in 1640.
        The Scots invaded Newcastle but agreed to leave if they were paid money - which lead to the calling of parliament
  2. Specifically opposed to the Common book of Prayer and the Arminian liturgy
Arminian sympathies
1. William Laud
  1. 1633 Charles I Appointed him Archbishop of Canterbury
    1. Wanted bishops and clergy to have more power, as did Charles
      1. e.g. Charles made Bishop William Juxon - who was also Laud's protégé - Lord Treasurer 1636
      2. e.g. tried to force nobles to return bought land to the church
  2. Made services more ceremonial, musical, decorated etc.
  3. Brought in a new prayer book
  4. Vigorous campaign to attempt to restore the Church to its pre-restoration wealth
  5. Attempted to impose uniformity throughout the Kingdom
The Queen was openly Roman Catholic
1. Charles had several people in positions of power who were suspected to be Roman Catholic which caused suspicion
2. December 1634 Charles I became the first monarch to have received an emissary from the Pope since the reformation
3. Charles I sought Queen Anne's advice over major policy decisions and appointments

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Religious policy of Charles I in the 1630s

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	Created by Zoe Curtis almost 6 years ago