Suffolk Committees for Scandalous Ministers, 1644-1646

Civil war arose in England as a result of disagreement between the king and Parliament in the early 1640s. During this time Parliament strove for ecclesiastical reform and established a House for Religion. Under this House there was a subcommittee that was "charged with inquiring into the dearth of able preachers, with considering means of providing the latter with an adequate maintenance, and with investigation ways of removing 'Scandalous ministers' and replacing them with more satisfactory incumbents" (Introduction, p. 9). In this sense 'Scandalous ministers' referred to "any minister who was non-resident, incompetent or idle, scandalous either in life or in doctrine, or in any way ill-affected to Parliament" (Introduction, p. 16). As the majority of Parliament was pro-Presbyterian, the Anglicans, Catholics, and any others who disagreed with Parliament were subject to fall under the category of 'Scandalous ministers'. From this work researchers may learn more about one aspect of the events surrounding the first British Civil War, including local reaction to national policies and decisions, as well as Suffolk life and culture during the mid-1600s.