Church and State

The revolution inevitably raised once more in an acute form the problem of the relations of Church and State. The Convention Parliament, indeed, promptly asserted their right to legislate on ecclesiastical matters, although many questioned their competence to legislate at all, and still more questioned the validity of their ecclesiastical legislation. One of the first things they did was to establish new coronation oaths, and the debates on the bill for so doing illustrate in an interesting way the opinions of the Commons as to the relations of Church and state. The changes in the coronation oaths were generally acceptable at the time. But the Act requiring all holders of ecclesiastical and secular office or employments to take the revised oaths of allegiance and supremacy aroused much opposition. The year which witnessed the passing of the Oaths Act saw also the triumph of toleration and the failure of the last great attempt to secure comprehension.