The Church Of England And The Bangorian Controv... May 2026

: Hoadly's radical Erastian views—denying the spiritual authority of the church—faced immediate backlash from figures like William Law , Thomas Sherlock , and Andrew Snape . Core Theological Arguments

The controversy had lasting consequences for both English religion and politics: The Church of England and the Bangorian Controv...

: Hoadly viewed the Church as an invisible society where individual sincerity was the only true test of faith. Opponents argued this denied the Church's role as a visible, authoritative institution. The dispute revolved around the fundamental nature of

The dispute revolved around the fundamental nature of the Christian Church and its relationship to the state: : He supported repealing laws that forced non-conformists

: On March 31, 1717, Hoadly preached a sermon before the King titled "The Nature of the Kingdom, or Church, of Christ" . Based on John 18:36 ("My kingdom is not of this world"), he argued that Christ had not delegated any temporal authority to his representatives.

: Hoadly rejected the doctrine of apostolic succession , claiming it encouraged a "spiritual power" that wrongly sought to control human conscience.

: He supported repealing laws that forced non-conformists to participate in Anglican ceremonies, believing that sincerity and liberty of conscience were paramount. Historical Significance and Impact