Those who refused to accede to the demands of the four "Acts of Uniformity" passed in England from the reign of Edward VI to that of Charles II. By these it was required of all ministers that they accept certain conditions as to the conduct of public worship, especially the use of the Book of Common Prayer with certain prescribed ceremonies. Those who would not conform set up for themselves separate conventicles, and became the foundation of English Protestant sectarianism. In later usage the term Nonconformist includes every denomination outside the Church of England, Catholicism alone excepted.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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