Recusants

Recusants were individuals in England, and later Britain, who refused to attend Anglican Church services during periods when conformity was enforced. This refusal was primarily a religious matter for Roman Catholics, who remained loyal to the Pope and considered the Church of England heretical. While the Act of Supremacy of 1559 made the monarch the head of the Church of England and required attendance at its services, Catholics who continued to practice their faith in private or attend Mass were considered recusants.

The penalties for recusancy varied over time, but generally included fines, seizure of property, and in some cases, imprisonment or even execution, particularly during times of heightened political tension or perceived Catholic plots. Laws such as the Popish Recusants Act 1605 further defined and penalized recusancy. Despite persecution, many English Catholics maintained their faith, often practicing in secret and relying on a clandestine network of priests.

The term "recusant" is most commonly associated with the period from the English Reformation in the 16th century through the late 17th century. Over time, laws against Catholics were gradually relaxed, and the direct enforcement of conformity to the Church of England diminished, leading to a decline in the number of individuals formally classified as recusants. However, the legacy of recusancy is an important part of English social and religious history, reflecting the struggles for religious freedom and the complex relationship between church and state.