The **Act of Uniformity** refers to a series of laws enacted in England between the 16th and 17th centuries aimed at enforcing uniformity in public worship and doctrine within the Church of England. The most significant and influential was the **Act of Uniformity of 1662**, passed during the Restoration period under [[King Charles II]].
# Key Points:
1. **Origins (1549, 1552, 1559):**
- The first Acts of Uniformity were passed during the English Reformation under Edward VI and Elizabeth I.
- They mandated the use of the _Book of Common Prayer_ in all church services and required clergy and congregations to adhere to Anglican doctrine and liturgy.
2. **Act of Uniformity 1662:**
- After the English Civil War and the period of Puritan rule under Oliver Cromwell, the monarchy was restored in 1660 with Charles II’s reign.
- The Act of Uniformity (1662) was part of the **Clarendon Code**, a series of laws designed to suppress nonconformity and dissenters.
- It required all clergy to use the 1662 _Book of Common Prayer_ and conform to the doctrines of the Church of England.
- Clergy were required to be ordained by an Anglican bishop and declare loyalty to the Church of England, rejecting the validity of the Solemn League and Covenant (a Presbyterian agreement).
# **Consequences:**
- Over **2,000 Puritan ministers** were ejected from their parishes for refusing to conform, in what became known as the **Great Ejection**.
- It contributed to the division between **Anglicans** and **Nonconformists** (such as Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists).
- Nonconformist ministers, like **[[William Bagshawe]]**, continued to preach privately despite persecution.
The Act remained a defining law for the Church of England and shaped the landscape of English religious life for centuries, reinforcing state control over public worship and limiting religious freedom for dissenters.