[delchiante]

But was a Christian church membership ever a requirement in England, for example?

[Vendome]

I don’t know.

[CraigEsq]

“But was a Christian church membership ever a requirement in England, for example?”

My understanding is that it was in the 1700s, at least in one of the two competing grand lodges, until they reconciled in the late 1700s. Part of that compromise was keeping the Christian symbolism but dropping requirements to be a Christian.