Dissent and the Church of Scotland, 1660-1690
The subject of this dissertation is the ecclesiastical history of Scotland between 1660 and 1690. This work will examine the struggle between 'presbytery' and 'prelacy' in detail, and it will examine the role of the state in that conflict. The first three chapters deal with the post-Restoration church settlement and public reactions to that settlement, and these chapters are revisionist in approach. It is usually claimed that the decision to disestablish 'presbytery' and revive 'prelacy' in 1661 was unpopular, but the evidence in chapters one, two, and three suggests that the king's church polity--at least in the early years--aroused no great protest or outcry? Why? The war, turmoil, and taxes between 1637 and 1660 (the bitter harvest of the covenants) had left the Scots indifferent to religion in general and presbyterianism in particular, and although such attitudes would change in time, they were initially very real. Chapter four is an examination of the royal supremacy, one of the most controversial aspects of the post-Restoration church. In chapter four it will be argued that the presbyterians fundamentally misconstrued the nature of the royal supremacy--they exaggerated the king's ecclesiastical claims--but
Mirabello, Mark Linden
BL Religion ; DA Great Britain
Dissent and the Church of Scotland, 1660-1690. The subject of this dissertation is the ecclesiastical history of Scotland between 1660 and 1690. This work will examine the struggle between 'presbytery' and 'prelacy' in detail, and it will examine the role of the state in that conflict. The first three chapters deal with the post-Restoration church settlement and public reactions to that settlement, and these chapters are revisionist in approach. It is usually claimed that the decision to disestablish 'presbytery' and revive 'prelacy' in 1661 was unpopular, but the evidence in chapters one, two, and three suggests that the king's church polity--at least in the early years--aroused no great protest or outcry? Why? The war, turmoil, and taxes between 1637 and 1660 (the bitter harvest of the covenants) had left the Scots indifferent to religion in general and presbyterianism in particular, and although such attitudes would change in time, they were initially very real. Chapter four is an examination of the royal supremacy, one of the most controversial aspects of the post-Restoration church. In chapter four it will be argued that the presbyterians fundamentally misconstrued the nature of the royal supremacy--they exaggerated the king's ecclesiastical claims--but
dissent church scotland subject ecclesiastical_history scotland work examine struggle presbytery detail examine_role state conflict first three_deal post restoration church settlement public reaction settlement revisionist approach usually claim decision presbytery revive unpopular evidence two_three suggests king church polity least arouse great protest war turmoil tax bitter harvest covenant leave scots indifferent religion general presbyterianism particular although attitude would change_time initially real examination royal supremacy controversial aspects post restoration church argue presbyterian fundamentally nature_royal supremacy king ecclesiastical claim