Catholicism and anti-Catholicism in Cheshire during the Long Reformation, c.1560 – c.1720

This doctoral thesis examines the presence and practice of Catholicism in Cheshire, England, during the period known as the Long Reformation, roughly from 1560 to 1720. Catholicism was a prohibited minority faith during this era, and its practice could lead to significant penalties. While it remained outlawed for another century, the 1720s marked a shift in the intensity of anti-Catholic persecution, making it a logical endpoint for this study. The research challenges previous historical understandings by demonstrating the limited impact of anti-Catholic measures in Cheshire. It shows that only a small fraction of Catholics faced penalties, initially through imprisonment in the Elizabethan era and later through property seizure. The study also highlights the diverse forms of Catholicism beyond the traditional gentry-led recusant model, including 'church papist' and plebeian-led groups, suggesting a stronger and more varied Catholic presence in the county than previously acknowledged. Furthermore, the thesis differentiates the level of religious coexistence within the broader community. It finds limited integration in matters of faith and family life, but greater integration in everyday secular activities. The study also explores the engagement of Cheshire Catholics with major national events of the period, such as the Civil War, the Popish Plot, and Jacobitism.

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