The Restoration of the Church of England: Canterbury Diocese and the Archbishop's Peculiars

Lambeth Library MS 1126 is a valuable source for historians studying the restoration of the episcopalian Church of England in the early 1660s and the administrative processes of the eighteenth-century church. It provides insight into the religious complexion of the parishes and the division and unsettled nature of the Church of England in Canterbury diocese.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 06 May 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

Lambeth Library MS 1126, a comprehensive transcription of the manuscript, was likely compiled in late 1663 on behalf of Gilbert Sheldon, the newly appointed archbishop of Canterbury. This invaluable resource serves as a conspectus of the parishes within the Canterbury diocese and the archiepiscopal peculiars. Within its pages, a wealth of information reveals the religious landscape of these parishes during the early 1660s. Notably, numerous entries provide insightful details about the religious composition of the parishes, shedding light on both the incumbent clergy and prominent lay figures. This unique perspective, absent from other sources of the 1660s, offers valuable insights into the restoration of the episcopalian Church of England during this period.

Despite the enforcement of the Act of Uniformity on St. Bartholomew's Day in 1662, the Catalogue makes it evident that the Church of England remained divided and unsettled within the parishes, particularly in the Canterbury diocese. This division is further highlighted by the fact that the Catalogue documents the administrative processes undertaken by Sheldon, who, as an incoming archbishop, was necessarily non-resident. His efforts to familiarize himself with the clergy and prominent laity in the parishes are evident through the collection and updating of information over the next twenty years.

In essence, the Lambeth Library MS 1126 serves as a valuable resource for historians, providing a comprehensive transcription that enables in-depth analysis. Through this analysis, it becomes apparent that Canterbury diocese must have experienced a higher number of ejections of clergy than previously recognized. This revelation prompts a call for a more detailed examination of events in other dioceses, shedding light on the broader context of religious developments during the 17th century.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783276882