The Acts of Uniformity: Their Scope and Effect

"The Acts of Uniformity: Their Scope and Effect" by T. A. Lacey is a historical analysis of laws designed to enforce religious conformity in England. Lacey explores how the Acts of Uniformity, passed during the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, aimed to create standardized religious practices. Instead of primarily establishing a uniform framework for worship Lacey contends, these acts functioned as tools to punish those who did not conform to existing religious practices. The book explains how the Acts became a means of persecution against diverse worship styles that emerged during the Protestant Reformation. Lacey shows the relationship between the monarchy, the Church, and Parliament, explaining how the laws eventually hindered the Church's ability to change and modify its religious practices later on.