#laudianism

[lizziestudieshistory]

Study 2019: a collection of things

Had an oddly productive day today... I managed to get my Italian practice done by 7 am and spent the morning analysing Catullus poetry for my ancient history module. I've spent this afternoon writing the first two sections of my presentation on Laudianism at Lichfield Cathedral and managed to finish it all by 6 pm! That was everything I wanted to do today and I actually finished it earlier than expected! These days never happen very often but I love it when they do.

[lizziestudieshistory]

Study 2019: a long absence

Been a bit neglectful of my blog recently as I've had a lot of non-study related work to do for university recently and not a lot of time to do it in... However, I have managed to finish two substantial pieces of work!

Secondly, I finished the first draft of chapter two of my dissertation. There's been some major changes for my dissertation recently as I planned chapter two and had to split in in half... I was seriously worried I wasn't going to have enough detail to write the whole chapter with enough nuance in my argument but I've managed it and I am happy with my argument! The rest of this week will be editing this chapter though so I can get it into my supervisor by Sunday at the latest.

Firstly, I've completly finished my presentation on the Caroline Altar Policy at Lichfield Cathedral. This was a difficult one for me to write because I'm presenting it to non-specialists who have never studied this period before so I found it hard to decide how much, or how little, detail to include! I got there in the end though!

[fionamccall]

‘Little, lost, Down churches’ - Burton, Sussex

I couldn’t locate Burton when I first tried - turns out it has a reputation for being impossible to find.  The trick is to find the Catholic church in Duncton which has plenty of parking next to it and a direct path leading to Burton church.  The Lords of the Manor - there is now a the rather monstrous and incongruous 19th century great house next to the church in a garish shade of cream - were Catholics. These were the Goring family, relatives of the notorious royalist commander George Goring.  John Goring, gent, another scion of the family, is recorded having violent disputes with the puritan minister at nearby Barlavington (very plain in comparison with Burton) during the 1650s.

Relative obscurity and catholic patronage perhaps explain why so many early features have survived in this backwoods church, including a rood loft, a Norman font and a wall-painting of an obscure saint, Wilgefortis (apparently a Sicilian princess), shown being crucified upside down, see below:

Wilgefortis is somewhat obscured by an interesting Tudor tomb, with Elizabeth Goring, unusually for a woman, depicted wearing her own armorial bearings:

Most interesting to me were the Laudian features, including Laudian altar-rails, and some suitable religious and political  indoctrination.  Not only ‘Obey them that have rule over you’, but also below the royal arms, the motto ‘Christo auspice regno’, meaning ‘I reign under the auspices of Christ’, which was used on Charles I’s coinage.

Two other favourite quotes of the Laudians are also depicted:

The Laudian clergy loved to see themselves as God’s representatives too. 

According to all the sources I can find the scheme was ordered by an injunction from Archbishop Juxon, which seems quite possible.  He had connections to Chichester diocese, but was bishop of London and treasurer of England in 1636, so I’m not sure what power he would have to dictate the decoration scheme at Burton, unless he were the patron. But the use of the motto from the coinage seems a possible link to the treasury. I shall have to ask my friend Andrew Foster, who is sure to know!

[lizziestudieshistory]

Hi! I just read your post about Charles I and "Laudianism". I'm a fellow Early Modern historian, and really enjoyed what you wrote! I had not come across this issue before do it's always a delight to get more context of the history period that I love!

Aww I'm so glad, it's a fascinating topic but often overlooked. As you can tell it's a period I also love and I'm so happy my mad rant has been of interest to you! There's quite a big debate over Laudianism in the historiography so there's books/articles to get your teeth into if you're interested.

[englandsnewjerusalem]

Laura Sangha

The 1630s was a time of innovation in church services. Archbishop Laud and other bishops cracked down on nonconformity and insisted that ministers followed the Book of Common Prayer to the letter. Ministers were forced to wear the surplice, people had to bow at the name of Jesus, and sermons were played down at the expense of sacraments. In accordance with the principle of ‘the beauty of worship’, Laudians also moved the communion table back to the chancel, and erected altar ‘rails’ such as those shown in this image. To many contemporaries, these changes smacked of ‘popery’, and people feared that Laudianism was really an attempt to smuggle catholicism back into England. Laudiansm is therefore seen as one of the key contributors to the causes of the English Civil Wars.