'Schismatical people' : conflict between clergy and laity in Warwickshire, 1660-1720
The clergy were the focus of early modern parish life, yet their often troubled relationships with parishioners have received little attention from social historians. This thesis offers new evidence by examining the Warwickshire clergy, in the turbulent years between 1660 and the repeal of the âOccasional Conformityâ and âSchismâ acts, as both victims and perpetrators in clerical/lay conflicts. Using the ecclesiastical records of Worcester and Lichfield/Coventry, the two dioceses covering Warwickshire, this study has found clerical authority weakened through contempt, and disadvantaged by the Anglican Churchâs continued use of medieval methods of ecclesiastical discipline and funding. It has also discovered a strong laity using both legal and subversive tactics to express frustration with the clergy and influence clerical behaviour, by negotiating an acceptable Anglican orthodoxy or by opposing the minister to force his resignation, suspension or deprivation. Mapping of tithe and non-tithe clerical/lay incidents shows that conflict was more frequent in south-west Warwickshire, particularly in the Hundred of Barlichway, than in the north and east of the county. Strong gentry control decreased the
Harris, Maureen Elizabeth
'Schismatical people' : conflict between clergy and laity in Warwickshire, 1660-1720. The clergy were the focus of early modern parish life, yet their often troubled relationships with parishioners have received little attention from social historians. This thesis offers new evidence by examining the Warwickshire clergy, in the turbulent years between 1660 and the repeal of the âOccasional Conformityâ and âSchismâ acts, as both victims and perpetrators in clerical/lay conflicts. Using the ecclesiastical records of Worcester and Lichfield/Coventry, the two dioceses covering Warwickshire, this study has found clerical authority weakened through contempt, and disadvantaged by the Anglican Churchâs continued use of medieval methods of ecclesiastical discipline and funding. It has also discovered a strong laity using both legal and subversive tactics to express frustration with the clergy and influence clerical behaviour, by negotiating an acceptable Anglican orthodoxy or by opposing the minister to force his resignation, suspension or deprivation. Mapping of tithe and non-tithe clerical/lay incidents shows that conflict was more frequent in south-west Warwickshire, particularly in the Hundred of Barlichway, than in the north and east of the county. Strong gentry control decreased the
people conflict clergy laity warwickshire clergy focus early_modern parish life yet often troubled relationship parishioner receive_little_attention social historian offer_new evidence examine warwickshire clergy turbulent year repeal occasional conformity schism act victim perpetrator clerical lay conflict using ecclesiastical record worcester diocese cover warwickshire study find clerical authority weaken disadvantage anglican_church continue_use medieval method ecclesiastical discipline funding also discover strong laity use legal subversive tactic express frustration clergy influence clerical behaviour negotiate acceptable anglican orthodoxy oppose minister force resignation suspension deprivation mapping tithe non tithe clerical lay incident show conflict frequent south_west warwickshire particularly hundred north east county strong gentry control decrease