Dissenter

Under Dissenter ( " dissenters, dissenter " ) refers especially in the Church History of England and Wales, members of a religious community who have separated because of their different opinion of the official church.

Definition / delineation

In a broader sense, the term English or Welsh Catholics also includes those who have been referred to in the draft 1779 Relief Act as " Protesting Catholic Dissenters ."

In the narrow sense as dissenters but the Protestant " nonconformists " means that fell over the church reforms of the 16th and 18th century Anglican of the Church and their own faith communities were formed. The term " non-conformists " was initially used only for those believers who indeed refused to adhere to certain religious rules of the official church, but not leaked out of the church community.

Historical classification

These rules were laid down in several Uniformitätsakten passed by parliament since the 16th century. During the Commonwealth the mid-17th century, the Uniformitätsgesetzgebung was lifted during the Restoration under Charles II but renovated in 1662 and supplemented by other laws against Catholics and nonconformists ( Clarendon Code ). In the wake of the Glorious Revolution the dissenters with the Act of Toleration was granted in 1689 restricted religious freedom. For this law to the mid-18th century also directs mainly the term " Dissenter " from increasingly by the word " Nonconformist " was replaced.