Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Dedication
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Locating the Bangorian controversy
- 2 Religion and the whig schism
- 3 Culture and contention
- 4 The anatomy of the controversy
- 5 Poperies and Reformations
- 6 The hermeneutics of heresy
- 7 The politics of piety
- Conclusion
- Appendix I New pamphlets per month
- Appendix II Pamphlet map of the Bangorian controversy
- Bibliography
- Index
- STUDIES IN MODERN BRITISH RELIGIOUS HISTORY
2 - Religion and the whig schism
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 September 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Dedication
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Locating the Bangorian controversy
- 2 Religion and the whig schism
- 3 Culture and contention
- 4 The anatomy of the controversy
- 5 Poperies and Reformations
- 6 The hermeneutics of heresy
- 7 The politics of piety
- Conclusion
- Appendix I New pamphlets per month
- Appendix II Pamphlet map of the Bangorian controversy
- Bibliography
- Index
- STUDIES IN MODERN BRITISH RELIGIOUS HISTORY
Summary
The fierce divisions amongst whigs between 1716 and 1720 found expression in large part in Bangorian discourse. During these years the prince of Wales set up a rival court against the king, and Robert Walpole and Viscount Townshend led a group of whigs in opposition to the ministry of Stanhope and the earl of Sunderland. It would be simplistic to say that divisions amongst the whigs were simply about religion, but attitudes to the church did occupy a pivotal place in shaping those divisions. It is instructive therefore to examine both the context of these divisions amongst the whigs, and the discourses which were employed on either side to legitimize their actions, especially in relation to ecclesiastical matters.
During the debate on the Septennial Act in 1716 Sir Robert Raymond noted that long parliaments were invented by Henry VIII's ministers when ‘extraordinary things were to be done’, the church remodelled, and the abbey lands snatched, adding ‘There is nothing of this sort now, I hope, intended.’ One whig member responded by decrying those who lamented the danger of the church, accusing them of favouring the church of Rome, rather than that of England.
In that same session tory fears for the established church seemed to be justified by the Vestry Bill. The bill proposed dissolving existing parish vestries in and around the city of London, and allowing Dissenters to be elected to new vestries which would have extensive powers over the finance of the parish church, clergy and churchwardens, and also control over parish organizations such as charity schools.
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- Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2007