Nonjuring schism

The Nonjuring schism was a split in the Anglican Church in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution, over whether William of Orange could legally be recognized as King of England.

Related Topics:
Anglican Church - Glorious Revolution - William of Orange

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Many of the Anglican clergy felt legally bound by their previous oaths of allegiance to James II, and though they could accept William as Regent, they could not accept him as King. It was not a split on matters of religious doctrine, but purely a political issue and a matter of conscience. The nonjurors thus supported Jacobitism, although they generally did not actively support the Jacobite rebellions in 1715 or 1745.

Related Topics:
James II - Jacobitism - 1715 - 1745

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Five of the Seven Bishops who had petitioned James against the Declaration of Indulgence nonetheless became nonjurors, along with four other bishops.

Related Topics:
Seven Bishops - Declaration of Indulgence

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The nine nonjuring bishops were:

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• William Sancroft || Archbishop of Canterbury
• Thomas Ken || Bishop of Bath and Wells
• John Lake || Bishop of Chichester
• Francis Turner || Bishop of Ely
• Thomas White || Bishop of Peterborough
• Thomas Cartwright || Bishop of Chester
• Robert Frampton || Bishop of Gloucester
• William Lloyd || Bishop of Norwich
• William Thomas || Bishop of Worcester

These nine nonjuring bishops were joined by about 400 other Anglican clergy and a substantial majority of bishops in Scotland and one bishop in Ireland.

Related Topics:
Scotland - Ireland

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In February 1690, six nonjuring bishops were deprived of their sees and deposed (three others, Thomas, Cartwright, and Lake had already died). In Scotland, the Episcopal church was disestablished and Presbyterianism reintroduced.

Related Topics:
1690 - Presbyterianism

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When the vacant sees were filled, some refused to recognize the new bishops, and the nonjurors appointed their own bishops. In 1694, George Hickes (Dean of Worcester) was consecrated nonjuring bishop of Thetford and Thomas Wagstaffe was consecrated nonjuring bishop of Ipswich.

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Wagstaffe died in 1712 and Hickes remained the only surviving nonjuring bishop, however he himself consecrated several more. The nonjurors themselves split in 1719 over the issue of whether to introduce any modifications in the Book of Common Prayer; this rift was repaired in 1732. The nonjuring clergy and congregations gradually declined throughout the 18th century, as Jacobitism itself largely disappeared after the Second Jacobite rebellion of 1745, although some lines of succession of nonjuring bishops were maintained until the end of the century.

Related Topics:
1712 - 1719 - Book of Common Prayer - 1732 - Jacobitism - 1745

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