A brief account of our diocesan history
This section was added in October 2004, containing chapters in the history of the Diocese.
At present we cover the period 1500 - 1844. The history has been written by Rev David Milburn
- Under the Earlier Tudors (1500-1558)
- Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
- James 1 (1603-25)
- Charles I (1625-49)
- The Protectorate (1649-1660)
- Charles II (1660-1685)
- James II (1685-88)
- 18th Century (i)
- 18th Century (ii)
- 19th Century
6.The Reign of Charles II (1660-1685)
Already widely known in exile as a Catholic sympathiser and resolved on a policy of religious toleration, Charles II on his accession issued a declaration in favour of liberty of conscience for non-Anglicans. Anglican-Cavalier intransigence prevented this happening, and even ten years later when he tried again, hoping to stay the laws against the Catholics and allow them to worship in their private houses, orchestrated opposition led to the passing of the Test Act of 1673 which aimed to force Catholics, in particular the king's brother James, from civil office and military service by imposing on them an oath repudiating the doctrine of Transubstantiation.
In addition the old test of the refusal to attend the Anglican Sunday service as a basis for conviction for recusancy was revived. together with the £20 a month fine. There is a list for Durham County of some 1,200 people of all classes convicted in April 1674.
Worse was to come, however, when the untrustworthy Titus Oates made his allegations in 1678 about another Popish Plot. Massive hysteria gripped the land. The crisis led to the execution of 24 Catholics, including 17 priests and the Irish Archbishop of Armagh Oliver Plunket. Orders were given to compel all papists to take the oaths or give security for good behaviour.
The 1680 list of Durham County (excluding the city) names 362 of these, of whom 135 took the oath and 27 who were imprisoned for refusing it. Particularly targeted were the Jesuits, identified by Whig propaganda as the "political arm of Catholicism".
Copyright 2004 Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle