The Clarendon Code

The Clarendon Code refers to a set of English laws enacted in the 1660s aimed at establishing the Church of England as the dominant religious authority. These laws, which included the Corporation Act, the Uniformity Act, and others, restricted religious freedoms for non-Anglicans, making it difficult for Puritans, Catholics, and other dissenters to hold public office or worship freely. The Code was part of a broader effort by the monarchy to reinforce Anglicanism and reduce the influence of other denominations in government and society, leading to significant religious tension in England during that period.