Act of Uniformity 1662

Act of Uniformity 1662

The Act of Uniformity was an Act of the Parliament of England, 14 Charles II c. 4 (1662), which required the use of all the rites and ceremonies in the Book of Common Prayer in Church of England services. It also required episcopal ordination for all ministers. As a result, nearly 2,000 clergymen left the established church in what became known as the Great Ejection.

The Test and Corporation Acts, which lasted until 1828, excluded all nonconformists from holding civil or military office. They were also prevented from being awarded degrees by the universities of Cambridge and Oxford.

The Act of Uniformity was an act of Parliament, prescribing the form of public prayers, administration of sacraments, and other rites of the Established Church of England. Its provisions were modified by the "Act of Uniformity Amendment Act," of 1872.

It was enacted by Charles II, and reintroduced episcopal rule back into the Church of England after the Puritans had abolished many features of the Church during the Civil War. The Act of Uniformity itself is only one of four crucial pieces of legislation, known as the Clarendon Code, after Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, Charles' Lord Chancellor. They were:

*Corporation Act (1661) - This first of the four statutes which made up the Clarendon Code required all municipal officials to take Anglican communion, formally reject the Solemn League and Covenant of 1643. The effect of this act was to exclude nonconformists from public office.

*Act of Uniformity (1662) - This second statute made use of the Book of Common Prayer compulsory in religious service. Upwards of 2000 clergy refused to comply with this act, and were forced to resign their livings.

*Conventicle Act (1664) - This act forbade conventicles (a meeting for unauthorized worship) of more than 5 people who were not members of the same household. The purpose was to prevent dissenting religious groups from meeting.

*Five Mile Act (1665) - This final act of the Clarendon Code was aimed at Nonconformist ministers, who were forbidden from coming within five miles of incorporated towns or the place of their former livings. They were also forbidden to teach in schools. This act was not rescinded until 1812.

The Book of Common Prayer introduced by Charles was substantially the same as Elizabeth's version of 1559, itself based on Cranmer's earlier versions, and except for minor changes remains the official and permanent legal version of prayer authorised by Parliament and Church.

"(The '16 Charles II c. 2' nomenclature is reference to the statute book of the numbered year of the reign of the named King in the stated chapter. This is the method used for Acts of Parliament from before 1962.)"

ee also

*Religion in the United Kingdom
*Act of Uniformity
*Nonconformist
*Conformist
*Puritan's Pit

External links

* [http://www.eskimo.com/~lhowell/bcp1662/intro/uniformity_1662.html Text of the Act]
* [http://www.constitution.org/sech/sech_114.htm Text of the Act (go to (J) on linked page)]
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47307 Text of the Act, in "Statutes of the Realm", vol 5 at British History Online]
*


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  • Act Of Uniformity (1662) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Act of Uniformity. L Act of Uniformity de 1662 (Acte d Uniformité en français) est une loi votée par le Parlement de l Angleterre sous le règne de Charles II. L acte requérait de tous la pratique des rites et des …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Act of Uniformity (1662) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Act of Uniformity. L Act of Uniformity de 1662 (Acte d Uniformité en français) est une loi votée par le Parlement de l Angleterre sous le règne de Charles II. L acte requérait de tous la pratique des rites et des …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Act of uniformity (1662) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Act of Uniformity. L Act of Uniformity de 1662 (Acte d Uniformité en français) est une loi votée par le Parlement de l Angleterre sous le règne de Charles II. L acte requérait de tous la pratique des rites et des …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Act of Uniformity 1549 — The Act of Uniformity 1549 (citation 2 3 Edward VI (reigned 1547 1553), c. 1) established The Book of Common Prayer ( The Book of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies of the Church after the use… …   Wikipedia

  • Act of Uniformity — Over the course of English parliamentary history there were a number of acts of uniformity. All had the basic object of establishing some sort of religious orthodoxy within the English church.*The Act of Uniformity 1549 (2 3 Edward VI, c 1) which …   Wikipedia

  • Act Of Uniformity — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. L histoire parlementaire anglaise compte plusieurs Acts of Uniformity. Tous avaient pour objectif fondamental d introduire diverses mesures d orthodoxie… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Act of Uniformity — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. L histoire parlementaire anglaise compte plusieurs Acts of Uniformity. Tous avaient pour objectif fondamental d introduire diverses mesures d orthodoxie… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Act of uniformity — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. L histoire parlementaire anglaise compte plusieurs Acts of Uniformity. Tous avaient pour objectif fondamental d introduire diverses mesures d orthodoxie… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Act of Uniformity — Eng. Hist. any of the three statutes (1549, 1559, 1662) regulating public worship services in the Anglican Church, esp. the act of 1662 requiring the use of the Book of Common Prayer. Also called Uniformity Act. * * * …   Universalium

  • Act of Uniformity — Eng. Hist. any of the three statutes (1549, 1559, 1662) regulating public worship services in the Anglican Church, esp. the act of 1662 requiring the use of the Book of Common Prayer. Also called Uniformity Act …   Useful english dictionary

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