Editing Act of Uniformity 1662 (section)

== Clarendon Code ==
The Act of Uniformity itself is one of four crucial pieces of legislation, known as the [[Clarendon Code]], named after [[Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon|Edward Hyde]], Earl of Clarendon, [[Charles II of England|Charles II]]'s Lord Chancellor.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dudley |first=Albert Cassell |date=1912 |title=Nonconformity Under the "Clarendon Code" |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1832693 |journal=The American Historical Review |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=65–78 |doi=10.2307/1832693 |jstor=1832693 |issn=0002-8762}}</ref> They are:

*The [[Corporation Act 1661]] ([[13 Cha. 2 St. 2]]. c. 1) – This first of the four statutes which made up the Clarendon Code required all municipal officials to take Anglican communion, and formally reject the [[Solemn League and Covenant]] of 1643. The effect of this act was to exclude [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|nonconformists]] from public office. This legislation was rescinded in 1828.
*The '''Act of Uniformity 1662''' – This second statute made use of the Book of Common Prayer compulsory in religious service. Upwards of 2000 clergy refused to comply with this act, and were forced to resign their livings.
*The [[Conventicle Act 1664]] ([[16 Cha. 2]]. c. 4) – This act forbade conventicles (a meeting for unauthorized worship) of more than 5 people who were not members of the same household. The purpose was to prevent [[English Dissenters|dissenting]] religious groups from meeting.
*The [[Five Mile Act 1665]] – This final act of the Clarendon Code was aimed at Nonconformist ministers, who were forbidden from coming within five miles of incorporated towns or the place of their former livings. They were also forbidden to teach in schools. This act was not rescinded until 1812.

Combined with the [[Test Act]], the [[Corporation Act]]s excluded all nonconformists from holding civil or military office, and prevented them from being awarded degrees by the [[university|universities]] of [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] and [[University of Oxford|Oxford]].