Ecclesiastical History of England, Volume 2—The Church of the Commonwealth

A vivid portrait of England’s church during the turbulent years between the Long Parliament and Cromwell’s death, this volume follows the shift of ecclesiastical power from crown to Commons. As royal authority wanes, the narrative tracks how the House of Commons, and later the Commonwealth, steered religious reform, presenting the legislative debates, the Westminster Assembly’s minutes, and the drafting of new church articles.

The book brings to life the personalities who shaped the new council—Cromwell, Vane and Marten—painting their contrasting temperaments and convictions. While some, like Cromwell, are shown as deeply devout, others reveal a more worldly side, highlighting the uneasy balance of piety and politics. Readers gain a clear sense of how early republican ideals intersected with the struggle to redefine English worship, setting the stage for the later Restoration.