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The significance of indigenous clergy in the Welsh church at the restoration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2016

John R. Guy
John R. Guy*
Affiliation:
Ash near Martock Somerset
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Extract

‘Until 1563 the progress of the reformation in Wales was linked with the use of English as a prescribed language . . . Few decisions had more far-reaching consequences than the decision to abandon this principle so far as religion was concerned in Wales’. Walker believes that this change of policy in the early years of Elizabeth’s reign was brought about by what he calls ‘the deep-seated conservatism of the Welsh Church’, and quotes the letter of bishop Nicolas Robinson of Bangor (1566–86) to Cecil, in which Robinson claims that the slow progress of the reformation in the principality was at least partly due to ‘the dregs of superstition which did grew chefly upon the blindness of the clergie’ and ‘the closing up of God’s worde from them [that is, the Welsh people in an unknown tongue’. Richard Davies, bishop successively of St Asaph (1560–1) and of St Davids (1561–79) believed that if the Welsh church was to be directed along the path required by Elizabeth’s government then the language of the overwhelming majority of the people would have to be employed in both liturgy and pulpit. Only worship in Welsh would make the Anglican church an acceptable institution in Wales, and that necessitated ministers fluent in the vernacular whose teaching was buttressed by the reading of the scriptures and the performance of divine service in the same tongue.

Type
Research Article
Information
Studies in Church History , Volume 18: Religion and National Identity , 1982 , pp. 335 - 343
Copyright
Copyright © Ecclesiastical History Society 1982

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References

1 A History of the Church in Wales, ed David, Walker (Penarth 1976) p 65 Google Scholar.

2 Ibid p 68.

3 Ibid.

4 [Glanmor], Williams, [Welsh Reformation Essays] (Cardiff 1967) p 142 Google Scholar.

5 Green, [I. M.], [The Re-Establishment of the Church of England 1660-1663] (Oxford 1978) p 95 Google Scholar.

6 Williams p 143. Whitebrook, J. C., The Consecration of Matthew Parker (London 1945)Google Scholar has much to say on Kitchin.

7 Green p 95.

8 Ibid p 96.

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16 In 1662 he sent a letter to his clergy concerning the support of free schools in the diocese.

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18 William, Rees, Cardiff—A History of the City (2 rev ed Cardiff 1969) pp 92-3Google Scholar. This is a critical account and has to be read in the light of entries in the Llandaff Chapter Act Book 1573-1722, (National Library of Wales MS. LL/Ch/4).

19 Brian Ll., James, ‘The Welsh language in the vale of Glamorgan’ Morgannwg, 16 (Cardiff 1972) p 24 Google Scholar.

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21 Cardiff Library MS. 1.223.

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24 Cardiff Library MS. 1.223.

25 Llandaff Records 2, ed Bradney, [J. A.] (Cardiff 1908)Google Scholar contains Lloyd’s episcopal register.

26 Ibid pp 10, 17. Cardiff Library ‘Rayer’ MS. p 130.

27 Ibid pp 10, 37, 71.

28 Ibid pp 41, 50. Bradney, J. A., A History of Monmouthshire, 4 vols (London 1904-33) 4, 1 p 26 Google Scholar.

29 Bradney, , Llandaff Records, 2, pp 32 Google Scholar, 80.

30 Ibid pp 6, 36.

31 Ibid pp 68, 74.

32 Ibid pp 22, 23, 24.

33 Much of the information in this paragraph is taken from the Llantrisant History Newsletter, no 28, Dyftryn Uchaf, Dyffryn Isafand Ynis Allan.

34 I owe this vivid description to J. Barry Davies.

35 Thomas, Richards, Religious Developments in Wales 1654-1662, (London 1923) pp 51 Google Scholar, 488, 495.

36 Stubbs p 123.

37 Articles of Visitation und Enquiry concerning Mutters Ecclesiastical . . . in the First Episcopal Visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God Hugh by Divine Providence Lord Bishop of Landaffe (London 1662), particularly Tit. 3, Arts. 1 and 15. See also Green p 136 n 97.

38 Microfilm of the returns for the Llandaff diocese at the Newport Central Library.