England Nonconformist History 1778 to 1829 (National Institute)

Methodism Era (1730s-1830s) (cont.)
No marriage of William Fane and Mary White has been found in an Anglican church, and even if one cannot be located in a nonconformist chapel owing to no register being kept, or it being lost, a check of the membership lists and administrative records of the local nonconformist chapels should be done to ascertain the religious affiliation of William Fane, and indeed of his two respected friends. From 1837 the Nonconformists got what they wanted—a legal marriage outside the Anglican Church, in a Register Office.

Catholic Relief Acts 1778 and 1791
This was also known as the Repeal of the Penal Laws—the years between the Reformation and 1778 being known by Catholics as the Penal Times or Period. Catholics had been vulnerable to sporadic persecution throughout the 18th century, especially during the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion and as late as the Gordon Riots of 1780 but tolerance was building. The Catholic Relief Act 1778 allowed them to take the oath of allegiance and the Catholic Relief Act 1791 facilitated them building and worshipping in their own churches, although some had been doing this for many years before this date. Most of the other penalties such as inheritance and purchase of land, education of children in their faith, and entrance to the professions were also removed. They were also allowed to practice as lawyers after a suitable declaration and oath, normally listed separately from Anglicans, as were Quakers.

New Toleration Act 1812
This was an important step in ensuring liberties for Nonconformists as it repealed most of the 1665 Five Mile Act and the 1670 Conventicle Act and exempted from all control meetings of less than 20 people. Under this new Act further certificates for registration of meeting places for all kinds of dissenters were issued by the Quarter Sessions, as shown below.

Chart: Registration of Places of Worship in Leicestershire 1824

Unitarian Relief Act 1813
Extended the benefits of the 1689 Toleration Act to those who did not believe in the Trinity. Churches which had been Unitarian in everything but name, typically calling themselves Presbyterians (but some Baptist and Congregational as well, could now openly call themselves Unitarian.)

Wesleyan Methodist Metropolitan Registry 1818
The Wesleyans established this central register of births intended to cover all the British Isles but entries come mainly from the London area. It contains 10,291 entries to 1837 (Gandy 2001, Leary), although the British Isles Vital Records Index claims to have 13,482! Some retrospective entries date back to 1773. Examples follow below.

Chart: Examples from Wesleyan Methodist Metropolitan Registry 1818-1837

Catholic Emancipation Act 1829
This was a product of the more tolerant attitudes of the early 19th century, and now Catholics had far greater religious, social and political freedom. They were permitted to hold property unconditionally, to vote and become members of Parliament in either House, and to hold municipal, judicial and public office.

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