Religious gatherings grew in numbers, size, and geographical
extent. Dissenters were then allowed by statute to meet behind
locked or barred doors. But they had to pay tithes and could be
prosecuted in the ecclesiastical courts for not doing so. By
statute, all congregations and assemblies for religious worship
had to register with the local bishop or archbishop. Disturbers of
religious worship were required to find two sureties for the
amount of 50 pounds.
Attendance at the established Church of England was never again
required. Nor was preaching or lecturing constrained. Instead, a
statute was passed in 1677 that: Every person shall be pious and
exercise religion publicly and privately on Sunday. No work may be
done or goods sold or forfeit 5s. or the goods respectively. No
one may travel or forfeit 5-20s. In a further statute of 1688,
because some ease to scrupulous consciences in the exercise of
religion may be an effectual means to unite Protestant subjects in
interest and affection, Protestant nonconformists who took the
oaths (or declaration in the case of Quakers) and a declaration
that they were not Catholic, did not adore the Virgin Mary or any
saint, and did not go to mass were declared not liable for
punishment in any ecclesiastical court by reason of their
nonconformity to the Church of England, except Protestant
dissenters meeting behind locked doors.
Pages:
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900