Abstract
By the 1640s, Prayer Book ritual had marked rites of passage in England for over eighty years. It formed a reassuring continuum with older Catholic rites and gave communality to parish religion. However, puritans disliked its ceremonial elements, which were banned by Parliament in the 1640s. Anecdotal evidence suggests that parishioners continued to demand old-style rites of passage, and some clergy to offer them. This has led historians to suggest that traditionalist practice was condoned by the regime. This article uses loyalist memories of antagonisms between puritan and non-puritan clergy and parishioners over baptism, as well as evidence from legal prosecutions and other sources, to complicate such presumptions, showing how, with opinion sharply divided on their practice, rites of passage led to clashes and confrontations within parishes and remained a focus for local antagonism.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
