Act of Uniformity 1549
Encyclopedia
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 of the Church of England) as the sole legal form of worship in England. Before 1549, the churches of England continued to use a slightly altered version of the Latin
-language
Missal
.
s; it was largely a new creation which in its text and its ceremonial directions reflected various Lutheran doctrinal influences. The first Acts (2 and 3 Edward VI, c. 1) were called An Act for Uniformity of Service and Administration of the Sacraments throughout the Realm. It deemed as follows:
This section covers the following three points. England claimed many territories as its own with the phrase “or other of the king’s dominions”. And that there was plenty of time for England’s territories to become accustomed to these new laws giving them approximately one year to use The Book of Common Prayer to unify the country behind a single common practice of Faith.
Then follow penalties against those of the clergy that should substitute any other form of service, or shall not use The Book of Common Prayer, or who shall preach or speak against it:
This provided loss of all income, which was forfeited to the Crown. Imprisonment “without bail or mainprize” meant one could not pay one's way out of prison, nor be given freedom until acquittal or the completion of the sentence.
A second offence was dealt with more harshly:
A second offence added a year to the previous six months in prison, loss of livelihood, and any promotions and position would be given to another as if the miscreant had died. A third offence was the harshest, punished by life in prison:
Nothing in this Act enforced attendance at public worship, but the provisions of the Act apply to every kind of public worship or “open prayer”, as it was called, which might take place. The Act itself defines “open prayer” as “that prayer which is for others to come unto or near, either in common churches or private chapels or oratories, commonly called the service of the Church.”
. When this Bill was debated in the House of Lords
in January 1549 it was very controversial. Of the eighteen bishops present at the final vote, ten voted in favor and eight against. Hostility to this Act and to the new prayer book led to rioting in some areas of the country, and a major uprising in Cornwall and the South West of England. They were resisted by Catholics on one side and Nonconformists on the other. Yet, Edward VI stated in his Act:
These words assured that it was not an Ex post facto law
. Only those already convicted would remain prosecuted.
Under the English Reformation
the different branches of Christianity
were pulling people in different directions, causing riots and crimes, particularly the Prayer Book Rebellion
. This Act was confirmed by 5 and 6 Edward VI, with the Act of Uniformity 1552
, c. 1, repealed by Mary I, sess. 2, c. 2, revived by Elizabeth I, c. 2, and James I, c. 25, with Act of Uniformity 1559
, and made perpetual so far as it relates to the Established Church of England by Anne V, c. 5, with the Act of Uniformity 1662
. The Act of Uniformity 1549 was the first Act of its kind and was used to make religious worship across England and its territories consistent (i.e. uniform). The Book of Common Prayer defined a middle ground for Christian
faith
within England
; the Act of Uniformity 1549 mandated that all English subjects move to that middle ground, so that they could put aside their differences.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
-language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
Missal
Missal
A missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year.-History:Before the compilation of such books, several books were used when celebrating Mass...
.
Nature of the Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer was far from just an English-language translation of the Latin liturgical bookLiturgical book
A liturgical book is a book published by the authority of a church, that contains the text and directions for the liturgy of its official religious services.-Roman Catholic:...
s; it was largely a new creation which in its text and its ceremonial directions reflected various Lutheran doctrinal influences. The first Acts (2 and 3 Edward VI, c. 1) were called An Act for Uniformity of Service and Administration of the Sacraments throughout the Realm. It deemed as follows:
and that all and singular ministers in any cathedral or parish church or other place within this realm of England, Wales, Calais, and the marches of the same, or other the king's dominions, shall, from and after the feast of Pentecost next coming, be bound to say and use the Matins, Evensong, celebration of the Lord's Supper, commonly called the Mass, and administration of each of the sacraments, and all their common and open prayer, in such order and form as is mentioned in the said book, and none other or otherwise
This section covers the following three points. England claimed many territories as its own with the phrase “or other of the king’s dominions”. And that there was plenty of time for England’s territories to become accustomed to these new laws giving them approximately one year to use The Book of Common Prayer to unify the country behind a single common practice of Faith.
Then follow penalties against those of the clergy that should substitute any other form of service, or shall not use The Book of Common Prayer, or who shall preach or speak against it:
yet lest any obstinate person who willingly would disturb so godly order and quiet in his realm should not go unpunished, that it may also be ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if any manner of parson, vicar, or other whatsoever minister, that ought or should sing or say common prayer mentioned in the said book, or minister the sacraments, shall after the said feast of Pentecost next coming refuse to use the said common prayers, or to minister the sacraments in such cathedral or parish church or other places as he should use or minister the same, in such order and form as they be mentioned and set forth in the said book or shall use, wilfully and obstinately standing in the same, any other rite, ceremony, order, form, or manner of Mass openly or privily, or Matins, Evensong, administration of the sacraments, or other open prayer that is mentioned and set forth in the said book; or shall preach, declare, or speak anything in the derogation or depraving of the said book, or anything therein contained, or of any part thereof; and shall be thereof lawfully convicted according to the laws of this realm, by verdict of twelve men, or by his own confession, or by the notorious evidence of the fact
Penalties
A first offence was punished thus:
- shall lose and forfeit to the king's highness, his heirs and successors, for his first offence, the profit of such one of his spiritual benefices or promotions as it shall please the king's highness to assign or appoint, coming and arising in one whole year next after his conviction; and also that the same person so convicted shall for the same offence suffer punishment by the space of six months, without bail or mainprize:
This provided loss of all income, which was forfeited to the Crown. Imprisonment “without bail or mainprize” meant one could not pay one's way out of prison, nor be given freedom until acquittal or the completion of the sentence.
A second offence was dealt with more harshly:
and if any such person once convicted of any offence concerning the premises, shall after his first conviction again offend and be thereof in form aforesaid lawfully convicted, that then the same person shall for his second offence suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole year, and also shall therefore be deprived ipso facto of all his promotions; and that it shall be lawful to all patrons, donors, and grantees of all and singular the same spiritual promotions, to present to the same any other able clerk, in like manner and form as though the party so offending were dead;
A second offence added a year to the previous six months in prison, loss of livelihood, and any promotions and position would be given to another as if the miscreant had died. A third offence was the harshest, punished by life in prison:
and that if any such person or persons, after he shall be twice convicted in form aforesaid, shall offend against any of the premises the third time, and shall be thereof in form aforesaid lawfully convicted, that then the person so offending and convicted the third time shall suffer imprisonment during his life.
Nothing in this Act enforced attendance at public worship, but the provisions of the Act apply to every kind of public worship or “open prayer”, as it was called, which might take place. The Act itself defines “open prayer” as “that prayer which is for others to come unto or near, either in common churches or private chapels or oratories, commonly called the service of the Church.”
Preparation of the Act
The Act of Uniformity 1549 had been prepared by a committee chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas CranmerThomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
. When this Bill was debated in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in January 1549 it was very controversial. Of the eighteen bishops present at the final vote, ten voted in favor and eight against. Hostility to this Act and to the new prayer book led to rioting in some areas of the country, and a major uprising in Cornwall and the South West of England. They were resisted by Catholics on one side and Nonconformists on the other. Yet, Edward VI stated in his Act:
that it may be ordained and enacted by his majesty, with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that all and singular person and persons that have offended concerning the premises, other than such person and persons as now be and remain in ward in the Tower of London, or in the Fleet, may be pardoned thereof;
These words assured that it was not an Ex post facto law
Ex post facto law
An ex post facto law or retroactive law is a law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of actions committed or relationships that existed prior to the enactment of the law...
. Only those already convicted would remain prosecuted.
Under the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
the different branches of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
were pulling people in different directions, causing riots and crimes, particularly the Prayer Book Rebellion
Prayer Book Rebellion
The Prayer Book Rebellion, Prayer Book Revolt, Prayer Book Rising, Western Rising or Western Rebellion was a popular revolt in Cornwall and Devon, in 1549. In 1549 the Book of Common Prayer, presenting the theology of the English Reformation, was introduced...
. This Act was confirmed by 5 and 6 Edward VI, with the Act of Uniformity 1552
Act of Uniformity 1552
The Act of Uniformity 1552 was enacted in 1552 by Edward VI of England. It was one of the many steps taken by Edward and his councillors to make England a more Protestant country...
, c. 1, repealed by Mary I, sess. 2, c. 2, revived by Elizabeth I, c. 2, and James I, c. 25, with Act of Uniformity 1559
Act of Uniformity 1559
The Act of Uniformity set the order of prayer to be used in the English Book of Common Prayer. Every man had to go to church once a week or be fined 12 pence , a considerable sum for the poor. By this Act Elizabeth I made it a legal obligation to go to church every Sunday...
, and made perpetual so far as it relates to the Established Church of England by Anne V, c. 5, with the Act of Uniformity 1662
Act of Uniformity 1662
The Act of Uniformity was an Act of the Parliament of England, 13&14 Ch.2 c. 4 ,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...
. The Act of Uniformity 1549 was the first Act of its kind and was used to make religious worship across England and its territories consistent (i.e. uniform). The Book of Common Prayer defined a middle ground for Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
within England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; the Act of Uniformity 1549 mandated that all English subjects move to that middle ground, so that they could put aside their differences.
See also
- Prayer Book RebellionPrayer Book RebellionThe Prayer Book Rebellion, Prayer Book Revolt, Prayer Book Rising, Western Rising or Western Rebellion was a popular revolt in Cornwall and Devon, in 1549. In 1549 the Book of Common Prayer, presenting the theology of the English Reformation, was introduced...
(1549 Cornish uprising) - Act of Uniformity 1552Act of Uniformity 1552The Act of Uniformity 1552 was enacted in 1552 by Edward VI of England. It was one of the many steps taken by Edward and his councillors to make England a more Protestant country...
- Act of Uniformity 1559Act of Uniformity 1559The Act of Uniformity set the order of prayer to be used in the English Book of Common Prayer. Every man had to go to church once a week or be fined 12 pence , a considerable sum for the poor. By this Act Elizabeth I made it a legal obligation to go to church every Sunday...
- Act of Uniformity 1662Act of Uniformity 1662The Act of Uniformity was an Act of the Parliament of England, 13&14 Ch.2 c. 4 ,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...
External links
- Text of Act of Uniformity 1549
- http://books.google.com/books?id=HyoMAAAAIAAJ&dq=documents+illustrative+of+english+church+history&pg=PP1&ots=OcoqDeASDM&sig=-K5IxPk3z79nbLkJepq3LlGq51E&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4SKPB_enUS245US247&q=Documents+Illustrative+of+English+Church+History&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnailDocuments Illustrative of English Church History], edited by Henry GeeHenry Gee (dean)The Very Rev Henry Gee DD, FSA was an Anglican dean in the first half of the 20th century.He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford and ordained in 1877. He was a Tutor at the London College of Divinity then Principal of Bishop’s College, Ripon...
and William John Hardy (London: Macmillan, 1914)