Conventicles Act

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Conventicles Act, 1664. This Act (16 Car. II c. 4) was one of the fiercest provisions of the Clarendon code, which aimed at restoring Anglican supremacy after the Restoration. It forbade attendance at any meeting of more than five persons for religious purposes other than Church of England ceremonies, and was accompanied by a battery of fines, imprisonment, and transportation. It was strongly imposed at first but later ignored. In 1668 it was allowed to expire, replaced by a less severe act in 1670 (22 Car. II c. 1), and replaced by the Toleration Act of 1689.

J. A. Cannon

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Conventicles Act

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Conventicles Act