Test Act of 1673

Timeline

1. 1673Palace of Westminster · LondonIn March 1673 the English Parliament passed the Test Act by an overwhelming majority, and Charles II was forced to assent; the act required all holders of royal government offices to make a public oath, receive Church of England communion, and sign a declaration against transubstantiation, with those non-compliant within three months required to vacate their posts.
2. 1673London · LondonJames, Duke of York (the heir presumptive), a Catholic, was required by law to resign as Lord High Admiral, thereby making his Catholic faith public and provoking strong anxieties in English politics about a Catholic succession, which in turn spurred the Whigs to launch the subsequent Exclusion Bill movement.
3. 1678–1828England · EnglandThe Second Test Act of 1678 extended the oath requirement to both Houses of Parliament, completely closing off channels of political participation for Catholics; it remained in force until repealed after the passage of the Sacramental Test Act 1828 and the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, profoundly shaping the religious color of English partisan politics in the interim.