Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Conflict and dissent, 1625–88: The Church of England: Laud’s policies and…
Full specification wording
Religion: conflict and dissent, 1625–88: The Church of England: Laud’s policies and religious uniformity; parliament’s reordering of the church, 1640–60; the restoration of Anglicanism, 1660–62 and its dominant position in religious life.
This topic traces the Church of England from Laud’s drive for uniformity in the 1630s to the restored Anglicanism of the early 1660s.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 3
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic traces the Church of England from Laud’s drive for uniformity in the 1630s to the restored Anglicanism of the early 1660s. Laud’s policies emphasised episcopacy, a fixed liturgy and ceremonial conformity, provoking opposition from puritans and contributing to the crises of 1640. Between 1640 and 1660, Parliament dismantled the Laudian church, abolishing episcopacy, banning the Book of Common Prayer and establishing a Presbyterian settlement in the 1640s, though this was never fully enforced and was challenged by Independency and sectaries. After 1660, the monarchy and bishops were restored, and by 1662 the Act of Uniformity reimposed an Anglican liturgy and episcopal order.
What earns the marks
- Explains the aims and methods of Laud’s policies, including the emphasis on episcopacy, the altar policy, the enforcement of ceremonies and the use of the Court of High Commission and Star Chamber.
- Analyses the opposition to Laud’s policies and how they contributed to religious and political conflict in the 1630s and 1640s, especially in Scotland and among puritans in England.
- Assesses the restoration of Anglicanism, 1660–62, including the role of the Cavalier Parliament, the Act of Uniformity and the ejection of nonconformist ministers in 1662.
- Evaluates the extent to which Anglicanism became dominant in religious life after 1662, considering the persistence of dissent, the operation of penal laws and the limits of enforcement in local communities.
- Uses evidence of continuity and change across the period to judge how far the Church of England’s position was transformed between 1625 and 1688.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming that Parliament’s reordering of the church, 1640–60, produced a single, uniform Presbyterian system.
Put it right: Recognise that the settlement was contested, unevenly enforced and challenged by Independents and sectaries.
Treating the restoration of Anglicanism in 1660–62 as simply a return to the pre-1640 church.
Put it right: Identify the new legal framework, especially the Act of Uniformity, and the exclusion of those who could not conform.
Confusing the terms ‘puritan’, ‘Presbyterian’ and ‘Independent’.
Put it right: Define each group’s key beliefs and organisational preferences, and use the terms precisely when explaining religious conflict.
Exam tips
- When discussing Laud, link his policies to specific outcomes, such as the Scottish crisis and the calling of the Long Parliament, rather than describing them in isolation.
- For the 1640–60 period, distinguish between legislation and its enforcement, and use examples of local resistance or non-compliance to show the limits of reordering.
- When assessing Anglican dominance after 1662, consider both legal measures and social reality, including the survival of nonconformist congregations.
Try the lesson
The start of the Religion: conflict and dissent, 1625–88: The Church of England: Laud’s policies and religious uniformity; parliament’s reordering of the church, 1640–60; the restoration of Anglicanism, 1660–62 and its dominant position in religious life. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was a key feature of Archbishop Laud's policies in the 1630s?
Listen
This topic traces the Church of England from Laud’s drive for uniformity in the 1630s to the restored Anglicanism of the early 1660s. Laud’s policies emphasised episcopacy, a fixed liturgy and ceremonial conformity, provoking opposition from puritans and contributing to the crises of 1640. Between 1640 and 1660, Parliament dismantled the Laudian church, abolishing episcopacy, banning the Book of Common Prayer and establishing a Presbyterian settlement in the 1640s, though this was never fully enforced and was challenged by Independency and sectaries. After 1660, the monarchy and bishops were restored, and by 1662 the Act of Uniformity reimposed an Anglican liturgy and episcopal order. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the aims and methods of Laud’s policies, including the emphasis on episcopacy, the altar policy, the enforcement of ceremonies and the use of the Court of High Commission and Star Chamber. Analyses the opposition to Laud’s policies and how they contributed to religious and political conflict in the 1630s and 1640s, especially in Scotland and among puritans in England. Explains Parliament’s reordering of the church between 1640 and 1660, including the abolition of episcopacy, the banning of the Book of Common Prayer, the establishment of Presbyterianism and the limits of that settlement. Assesses the restoration of Anglicanism, 1660–62, including the role of the Cavalier Parliament, the Act of Uniformity and the ejection of nonconformist ministers in 1662. A common slip: Assuming that Parliament’s reordering of the church, 1640–60, produced a single, uniform Presbyterian system. Instead, recognise that the settlement was contested, unevenly enforced and challenged by Independents and sectaries. Exam tip: When discussing Laud, link his policies to specific outcomes, such as the Scottish crisis and the calling of the Long Parliament, rather than describing them in isolation.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Parliament began reordering the church
- 2. Act of Uniformity reimposed Anglican liturgy and episcopal order
- 3. Monarchy and bishops were restored
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