Religious policy of Charles I in the 1630s

Religious policy of Charles I in the 1630s

1. What were peoples reactions to changes?

   • 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
   • Created a lot of opposition with local lords and nobility as they did not want to return their land.
     • Also resentment of the clergy being granted important positions they would normally receive
   • Puritans were the most prominent critics
     • 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
     • Disliked Bishops
       • Catholic church had Bishops
       • Bishops enacted Charles' reforms
     • Mutual hatred between them and Laud
       • 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
         • Evoked sympathy with the Puritans and also increased their hatred of Bishops
         • They became Puritan Martyrs
       • Laud saw Puritanism as a greater threat to Anglicanism than Catholicism
     • Not a majority denomination, however were powerful and influential.
       • Mostly Gentry/Landed classes
       • Educated... Successful in business
     • Determined with the belief God was on their side. They were willing to push their beliefs.

2. What happened in Scotland?

   • 1637, Charles I and Laud insisted Scotland use the new prayer books
     • This was in attempt to uniform the Kingdom
   • Scots resented interference and found the reforms insensitive
     • When it was first used in Edinburgh in July 1637 there was a riot
       • Scottish opponents signed a Covenant against Charles I criticising him
         • 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
     • Specifically opposed to the Common book of Prayer and the Arminian liturgy

3. Arminian sympathies

   • William Laud
     • 1633 Charles I Appointed him Archbishop of Canterbury
       • Wanted bishops and clergy to have more power, as did Charles
         • e.g. Charles made Bishop William Juxon - who was also Laud's protégé - Lord Treasurer 1636
         • e.g. tried to force nobles to return bought land to the church
     • Made services more ceremonial, musical, decorated etc.
     • Brought in a new prayer book
     • Vigorous campaign to attempt to restore the Church to its pre-restoration wealth
     • Attempted to impose uniformity throughout the Kingdom

4. The Queen was openly Roman Catholic

   • Charles had several people in positions of power who were suspected to be Roman Catholic which caused suspicion
   • December 1634 Charles I became the first monarch to have received an emissary from the Pope since the reformation
   • Charles I sought Queen Anne's advice over major policy decisions and appointments