The Life and Death of William Laud

Historic UK ^ | Unknown | Abigail Sparkes

[Jacquerie]

William Laud was a significant religious and political advisor during the personal rule of King Charles I. During his time as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Laud attempted to impose order and unity on the Church of England through implementing a series of religious reforms that attacked the strict Protestant practices of English Puritans. Accused of popery, tyranny and treason, Laud was considered one of the key instigators of the conflict between the monarchy and Parliament, which ultimately paved the way for the English Civil War.

During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, the Church became progressively Calvinist in doctrine, which corresponded with the increasing number of Puritans in England. Despite this, Laud openly criticised the nature of the Church throughout his career, arguing that church dogma had become too Calvinist, services too stern and the Crown too involved in religious matters. Laud found backing in his quest for reform from the King and prominent noblemen, as a result of their growing support for Arminianism. This was a strand of Protestantism that rejected some of the key Calvinist doctrines, such as predestination, and instead focussed on the belief that salvation could be achieved through free will.

[OrangeHoof]

Accused of popery,

Is that like impersonating a pope without a license?

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Francis will never be accused of that.

[xxqqzz]

He was trying to make the Church of England more Catholic or high Church. Popery meant being a Roman Catholic or what was called a papist. They didn’t use the word Catholic, since the CoE considered itself Catholic.

Laud’s efforts resulted in opposition from Puritans and other strong protestants who had been tolerated in the CoE and was a cause of the English Civil War.