Religion and the Restoration Settlement

Religion was one of the most divisive issues of the Restoration period. The Civil Wars had been fought partly over religious questions, and the Interregnum had seen a flourishing of radical Protestant sects. When Charles II returned, the key question was: what kind of religious settlement would the Restoration bring? This lesson covers the religious landscape of Restoration England, the impact of the Clarendon Code, and the attempts at toleration.

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The Religious Landscape in 1660

By 1660, England's religious situation was complex. The Church of England had been dismantled during the Interregnum, and a wide range of Protestant groups had emerged.