THENEWBURYMARTYRS.org.uk
Timeline of the History of the six main faiths in England celebrating diversity
Key: Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Judaism Sikhism
597 AD / Augustine brings Christianity to Britain1054
Schism / Schism West/East of the known world
West - Roman Catholic
East - Eastern Orthodox
Differences over nature of Holy Spirit, the use of icons and the date of Easter.
1066 / Jewish settlement recorded. Evidence Jews had lived in England since Roman times.
1275
Edward I / Statute of Jewry placed restrictions on Jews.
1290
Edward I / Edict of expulsion – Jews could now only meet in secret until reign of Oliver Cromwell – no community recorded.
1320 – 1384
John Wycliffe
Lollardy
( England’s first heresy) / John Wycliffe, Father of English Reformation
Origins of Lollardy – united by set of beliefs:
- Pope no power in worldly affairs
- Church too worldly
- Bible should be available to everyone in own language.
1381 / Peasant’s Revolt – attributed to Lollardy
1386 / Records of Islamic scholars in England
1401 / Heresy to translate the Bible
1517
Reformation
Birth of Protestantism
(Germany) / Martin Luther, a German monk, intent on exposing corruption and abuses – not on division but reform, this led to his excommunication after he nailed his thesis to the door of his church. Beliefs: Justification by faith itself, not good works, led to official split REFORMATION.
1518 / Christopher Shoemaker burnt in Newbury for reading Gospels in English.
1521 / Henry VIII given title ‘defender of the faith’ by the Pope for his pamphlet against Luther.
1534 / Oath of Supremacy and Submission of Clergy ends papal political power.
1536 - 1540 / Dissolution of the monasteries – religious or political?
1548 / Protestant Bishops reject transubstantiation
1549
Edward VI / Act of Uniformity –
Accept Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer
Communion service in English
Marriage of priests accepted.
1553
Mary Tudor
United with Rome / Divorce of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon annulled
Catholic mass restored in Latin
Book of Common Prayer suppressed
Illegal to attend a Protestant service.
Wyatt’s rebellion against return to Roman Catholicism quashed and execution of Lady Jane Grey.
1554 / Heresy Law of 1401 re-enacted allowing persons condemned as heretics to be burned. ( considerable opposition by parliament)
Restoration of property to monasteries.
Papal legate – Reginald Pole – the act was repealed that had condemned him to death.
Act of Supremacy repealed
Heresy Laws passed at Christmas.
1555 – 1558
283 burnings
(one every 5 days) / March 1555 Bishop of St David burned
October 1555 Ridley and Latimer burned in Oxford
March 1556 Cranmer (placed his right hand into fire first – this was the hand that had signed his recantation)
Heretics no longer given the opportunity to recant at the stake
1556 NEWBURY MARTYRS
1558
Elizabeth I / Act of Supremacy and Uniformity
New Prayer Book
A broad established church with prayers included for the Queen.
Anti extremists – Elizabethnamed Supreme Governor
1536
Geneva
Presbyterian / John Calvin
Justification by Faith alone
Taken up by John Knox of Scotland
1583 / Foxe’s Book of Martyrs published
To be read in Anglican services for many years.
1609
Baptist
Dissidents / Baptism by full immersion as a sign of membership
1611
James I / Authorised Version of the Bible – in English accessible to all
1625
Charles I / Charles I – Church and Kingdom in good order
Divine Right of Kings
Catholic Minority
Protestants seeking greater reform. – Puritans
1641 / Islamic group reported in London
1649 / First English version of the Qur’an
1642 – 1651
Civil war / 1648 Quakers in America – William Penn – ‘quaked’ at power of Lord.
Priesthood of all believers and simple living – adopted by Puritans
1656 / Indentified Jewish groups living in London
1653 – 1658
Cromwell and Protectorate / Banned Christmas
No music, dancing, festivals
Army of saints – new Order – God’s Order.
1660 - 1685
Charles II / Restoration of Church of England with Bishops.
1673 Test Acts – Oath of Supremacy and allegiance for any office – civil or military – non Anglicans could not hold office
1678 Extended to peers and members of House of Commons.
1685 – 1688
James II / Roman Catholic – attempted to restore England to Roman Catholic faith
1688
William and Mary / Protestant faith restored
1689 / Act of Toleration – freedom of worship to all Dissenters – though not Roman Catholics
1690 / Church of Scotland founded
1744
Methodist / Methodism – John Wesley – never intended leaving Anglican Church but to reform – became separate denomination.
1753 / Jewish Naturalisation Act legalised Jewish presence.
1774 / Shakers in USA
1800s / Muslim sailors recruited by India to work in East India Company settle in English port areas.
1828 / Plymouth Brethren founded as denomination
1828
England / Repeal of the taking of Holy Sacrament as a qualification for political office in country.
1829 / Jews allowed to sit in Parliament
1829 / Catholic Relief Act – allowed Roman Catholics to be MPs.
1829 / Visit of Raja Ram H Mohun Roy visits William IV
1830 / Mormons founded USA
1833 / Oxford Movement – reform of Church of England.
1849 / First recorded Sikh settler – Maharajah Duleep Singh – the last ruler of the Sikh Kingdom of Punjab.
1863 / Seven Day Adventists founded.
1865 / William Booth founded Salvation Army
Emphasis on practical Gospel.
1869 / Muslims mainly from Yemen settle in ports after opening of the Suez Canal.
1873 / First record of Islamic restaurants in London
1879 / Christian Scientists USA
Emphasis – spiritual healing
1879 / Sir Edwin Arnold compiled poem – The Light of Asia – scholars influenced by eastern Scriptures.
1884 / Charles Taze Russell
Founded Jehovah’s Witnesses
1898 / Allan Bennett returned from Sri Lanka as Ananda Mettyya – an ordained Buddhist monk.
1899 / Gideon’s International founded
Early 1900s / Pentecostal Movement
Revival of Baptism in Spirit emphasised
1907 / Buddhist Society of Great Britain founded.
1911 / First Sikh Gurdwara open in Putney
1929 / London Buddhist Society founded.
1930s/40s / European Jews settle fleeing to escape Nazism.
1942 / National Association of Evangelicals
1947 / Some Hindus settle prior to India’s independence.
1947 / The division of India and Pakistan meant new frontier ran through Sikh Punjab – became violent and overcrowded.
1948 / World Council of Churches founded
1949 / Start of Billy Graham’s Crusades
1950s/60s / Immigration from Pakistan and India for a better material life also following violence at partition of ‘British’ India.
1950s/60s / Immigration from Punjab – came as textile workers – did not wear outward religious symbols for fear of prejudice and no work.
1959 / Buddhists flee Tibet with Dalai Lama
1960s / Eastern Religions fashionable as people travel more widely.
1960s / Recruited as Doctors from India to support NHS
1960s / Building of the Mangla Dam in Pakistan which submerged 250 villages and displaced 100,000 Muslims to England.
1972 / 60,000 Asians expelled from Uganda – many to England.
1972 / Settled from Uganda and other African nations.
1970s / Immigration from East Africa following Africanisation of countries (many were expelled) – wear outward religious symbols as used to being highly visible in the expat community of east Africa
1972 / United ReformChurch founded by union of Presbyterian and Congregational Churches inEnglandWales.
Late 1900s / Growth of House Churches
Emphasised free worship– evangelical
1982 / First ever visit of Pope - John Paul II
1990s / Settled from Sri Lanka – Tamils and professionals from India.
2001 Census / Indicates religious diversity
2010 / Visit of Pope Benedict XVI to England
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