The Church in an Age of Danger: Parsons and Parishioners, 1660–1740 (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History)

This book looks at popular religion in early modern England, using detailed accounts of local conflicts to bring the religion of ordinary people to life. Unlike other studies, it examines not magical beliefs but orthodox religion. It counters the view that popular and elite culture in Europe and Britain became polarized by showing how the gentry and people cooperated in regulating religion. But while the clergy did not deserve their poor reputation, their defensiveness also prevented them from fulfilling popular religious needs. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 5 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 CONTENTS......Page 11 TABLES......Page 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 13 ABBREVIATIONS......Page 15 1 Introduction......Page 17 THE CHURCH IN DANGER......Page 30 A FACTIOUS, PROPHANE AND REFRACTORY PEOPLE......Page 35 LAY–CLERICAL CONFLICT......Page 38 2 Clerical profiles......Page 46 AN ILL-LIVING MAN......Page 47 THE INCOMES OF THE CLERGY......Page 50 A CLERICAL GENTLEMAN......Page 57 THE STATUS OF THE CLERGY......Page 60 A CLERICAL SCHOLAR......Page 66 CONCLUSION......Page 73 3 Arenas for conflict......Page 75 THE DECLINE OF VISITATIONS......Page 80 THE FLIGHT FROM THE CONSISTORY COURT......Page 88 4 The management of disputes......Page 99 DEFERENCE......Page 100 FOXHAM......Page 102 CONFLICT......Page 104 THE MANAGEMENT OF COURT ACTIONS......Page 109 GREAT BEDWYN......Page 113 POPULAR PARTICIPATION......Page 116 CONCLUSIONS......Page 122 5 Pastoral care......Page 124 KNOOKE......Page 125 VISITATIONS AND THE REGULATION OF THE CLERGY......Page 128 SCANDAL......Page 138 6 Tithes and religious conflict......Page 149 AVEBURY......Page 150 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TITHES......Page 157 7 The nonconformist threat......Page 171 RAMSBURY......Page 172 THE CLERGY AND NONCONFORMITY......Page 173 DEFINING NONCONFORMITY......Page 185 CONCLUSION......Page 187 8 Popular observance......Page 189 SOMERFORD MAGNA......Page 190 THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNION......Page 192 POPULAR PARTICIPATION IN WORSHIP......Page 204 THE INDISPENSABLE CELEBRANT......Page 211 CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE......Page 219 VISITING THE SICK AND DYING......Page 230 10 Singing and religious revival......Page 241 THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE......Page 243 GALLERIES AND SOCIETIES OF SINGERS......Page 248 ANGLICAN REACTION......Page 253 CHURCH MUSIC AFTER 1740......Page 265 11 Conclusion......Page 270 Dean of Salisbury......Page 276 Other Records......Page 277 PRINTED SOURCES......Page 278 SECONDARY SOURCES......Page 280 INDEX......Page 286 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 5 Title 7 Copyright 8 Dedication 9 CONTENTS 11 TABLES 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 13 ABBREVIATIONS 15 1 Introduction 17 THE CHURCH IN DANGER 30 A FACTIOUS, PROPHANE AND REFRACTORY PEOPLE 35 LAY–CLERICAL CONFLICT 38 2 Clerical profiles 46 AN ILL-LIVING MAN 47 THE INCOMES OF THE CLERGY 50 A CLERICAL GENTLEMAN 57 THE STATUS OF THE CLERGY 60 A CLERICAL SCHOLAR 66 CONCLUSION 73 3 Arenas for conflict 75 THE DECLINE OF VISITATIONS 80 THE FLIGHT FROM THE CONSISTORY COURT 88 4 The management of disputes 99 DEFERENCE 100 FOXHAM 102 CONFLICT 104 THE MANAGEMENT OF COURT ACTIONS 109 GREAT BEDWYN 113 POPULAR PARTICIPATION 116 CONCLUSIONS 122 5 Pastoral care 124 KNOOKE 125 VISITATIONS AND THE REGULATION OF THE CLERGY 128 SCANDAL 138 6 Tithes and religious conflict 149 AVEBURY 150 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TITHES 157 7 The nonconformist threat 171 RAMSBURY 172 THE CLERGY AND NONCONFORMITY 173 DEFINING NONCONFORMITY 185 CONCLUSION 187 8 Popular observance 189 SOMERFORD MAGNA 190 THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNION 192 POPULAR PARTICIPATION IN WORSHIP 204 9 Matters of life and death 211 THE INDISPENSABLE CELEBRANT 211 CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE 219 VISITING THE SICK AND DYING 230 10 Singing and religious revival 241 THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE 243 GALLERIES AND SOCIETIES OF SINGERS 248 ANGLICAN REACTION 253 CHURCH MUSIC AFTER 1740 265 11 Conclusion 270 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 276 MANUSCRIPT SOURCES 276 WILTSHIRE RECORD OFFICE, TROWBRIDGE 276 Bishop of Salisbury 276 Dean of Salisbury 276 Other Jurisdictions 277 Quarter Sessions 277 Other Records 277 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, KEW 278 BODLEIAN LIBRARY, OXFORD 278 SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, LONDON 278 PRINTED SOURCES 278 SECONDARY SOURCES 280 INDEX 286 This Book Explores Popular Support For The Church Of England During A Critical Period, From The Stuart Restoration To The Mid Eighteenth Century, When Churchmen Perceived Themselves To Be Under Attack From All Sides. In Many Provincial Parishes, The Clergy Also Found Themselves In Dispute With Their Congregations. These Incidents Of Dispute Are The Focus Of A Series Of Detailed Case Studies, Drawn From The Diocese Of Salisbury, Which Help To Bring The Religion Of The Ordinary People To Life, While Placing Local Tensions In Their Broader National Context. The Period 1660-1740 Provides Important Clues To The Long-term Decline In The Popularity Of The Church. Paradoxically, Conflicts Revealed Not Anticlericalism But A Widely Shared Social Consensus Supporting The Anglican Liturgy And Clergy: The Early Eighteenth Century Witnessed A Revival. Nevertheless, A Defensive Clergy Turned Inwards And Proved Too Inflexible To Respond To Lay Wishes For Fuller Participation In Worship.--book Jacket. 1. Introduction -- 2. Clerical Profiles -- 3. Arenas For Conflict -- 4. The Management Of Disputes -- 5. Pastoral Care -- 6. Tithes And Religious Conflict -- 7. The Nonconformist Threat -- 8. Popular Observance -- 9. Matters Of Life And Death -- 10. Singing And Religious Revival -- 11. Conclusion. Donald A. Spaeth. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 260-269) And Index. This book looks at popular religion in early modern England, using detailed accounts of local conflicts to bring the religion of ordinary people to life. Unlike other studies, it examines not magical beliefs but orthodox religion, and shows how the gentry and people co-operated in regulating religion This book will consider practice and social context of established religion in late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century England.