Church of England

===Stuart period===
{{further|Stuart period}}
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2020}}
Struggle for control of the church persisted throughout the reigns of [[James VI and I|James&nbsp;I]] and his son [[Charles I of England|Charles&nbsp;I]], culminating in the outbreak of the [[First English Civil War]] in 1642. The two opposing factions consisted of [[Puritans]], who sought to "purify" the church and enact more far-reaching Protestant reforms, and those who wanted to retain traditional beliefs and practices. In a period when many believed "true religion" and "good government" were the same thing, religious disputes often included a political element, one example being the struggle over bishops. In addition to their religious function, bishops acted as state censors, able to ban sermons and writings considered objectionable, while lay people could be tried by [[Arches Court|church courts]] for crimes including [[blasphemy]], [[heresy]], [[fornication]] and other 'sins of the flesh', as well as matrimonial or inheritance disputes.{{sfn|Helmholz|2003|p=102}} They also sat in the [[House of Lords]] and often blocked legislation opposed by the Crown; their ousting from Parliament by the [[Clergy Act 1640|1640 Clergy Act]] was a major step on the road to war.{{sfn|Wedgwood|1958|p=31}}

[[File:Canterbury_Cathedral_Choir_(249538223).jpeg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Major repairs were done to Canterbury Cathedral after the Restoration in 1660.]]

Following [[Cavalier|Royalist]] defeat in 1646, the Episcopacy was formally abolished.{{Sfn|King|1968|pp=523–537}} In 1649, the [[Commonwealth of England]] outlawed a number of former practices and [[Presbyterian polity|Presbyterian]] structures replaced the episcopate. The 39 Articles were replaced by the [[Westminster Confession]], the Book of Common Prayer by the Directory of Public Worship. Despite this, about one quarter of English clergy refused to conform to this form of state [[presbyterianism]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}} It was also opposed by religious [[Independent (religion)|Independents]] who rejected the very idea of state-mandated religion, and included [[Congregational church|Congregationalists]] like [[Oliver Cromwell]], as well as [[Baptists]], who were especially well represented in the [[New Model Army]].{{sfn|Spurr|1998|pp=11–12}}

After the [[Stuart Restoration]] in 1660, Parliament restored the Church of England to a form not far removed from the Elizabethan version. Until [[James II of England]] was ousted by the [[Glorious Revolution]] in November 1688, many [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|Nonconformists]] still sought to negotiate terms that would allow them to re-enter the Church.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=John |title=James II; A study in kingship |date=1978 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q1hnAAAAMAAJ |publisher=Menthuen |isbn=978-0413652904|pages=172–173}}</ref> In order to secure his political position, [[William III of England]] ended these discussions and the Tudor ideal of encompassing all the people of England in one religious organisation was abandoned. The religious landscape of England assumed its present form, with the Anglican established church occupying the middle ground and Nonconformists continuing their existence outside. One result of the Restoration was the ousting of 2,000 parish ministers who had not been ordained by bishops in the apostolic succession or who had been ordained by ministers in presbyter's orders. Official suspicion and legal restrictions continued well into the 19th century. Roman Catholics, perhaps 5% of the English population (down from 20% in 1600) were grudgingly tolerated, having had little or no official representation after the Pope's excommunication of Queen Elizabeth in 1570, though the Stuarts were sympathetic to them. By the end of 18th century they had dwindled to 1% of the population, mostly amongst upper middle-class gentry, their tenants and extended families.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}