Bangorian controversy

views updated May 18 2018

Bangorian controversy. Loosed by Benjamin Hoadly, a low-church Whig cleric, appointed to the bishopric of Bangor in 1715. The following year he launched an attack on the non-jurors, arguing that their deposition had been lawful. In 1717 he followed with a sermon ‘My kingdom is not of this world’, in which he adopted a most extreme position—that Christ had not vested authority in any secular persons, that private judgement was sacrosanct, and that sincerity of belief was the ultimate test. Hoadly appeared to his opponents to open the floodgates to religious anarchy and William Law and others commenced vigorous pamphlet warfare. The revival of religious controversy was extremely unwelcome to Whig ministers and when the matter was raised in the lower house of convocation, that body was hastily prorogued, not to meet again until 1852.

J. A. Cannon