Non-conformists

Nonconformists were Christians who did not conform to the worship, beliefs or organisation of the Church of England. They were also called Dissenters.

After the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the authorities sought to enforce religious uniformity. The Act of Uniformity of 1662 required clergy to accept the prescribed Church of England services and conditions. Ministers who refused lost their posts; many continued preaching to congregations in private houses, barns and other meeting places.

Answers to Archbishop Sheldon's questions to the clergy concerning non-conformists 1669

source: Buckinghamshire Dissent and Parish Life, Buckinghamshire Record Society

To Mr Richard Claver, Officiall.
In answer to your letter, by the commands of his Grace of Canterbury and our Bishop of Lincoln in order to the suppressing of conventicles, I certifye by these presents (haveing considered there Lordships particular directions) that there is one Thomas Saunders, a person that renteth about £20 per annum in this parish of Ilmer, at whose house for these two or three yeares past there is each Wednesday in the weeke for the most part a conventicle of about twelve or fourteen persons that goe under the name of Anabaptist. Which are of other parishes and people of ordinary quality whose names I know not nor theire teachers. There numbers hath been observed not much to encrease or decrease and might be, as I suppose, easily suppressed by the assistance of the civill magistrate if the law were duely executed.
July 17th 1669 per me Thomas Lillingstone, Curate ibidem

Bishop Wake's Summary of the responses to his visitation questionnaires from Buckingham Archdeacondy, 1706-12

source: Buckinghamshire Dissent and Parish Life, Buckinghamshire Record Society

Visitation AD 1706

(a) Mr Charles Cornish, Vicar.
Earle of Carnarvan, Patron.
(b) It contains 15 families; of which 2 are non-comformists; one being a Jew, the other a Quaker. No meeting house in the parish.
The value of the Vicarege is above £23 per annum.
(c) There is neither lecture, school, almes-house, or hospital in this parish.
No person of quality or gentleman of estate lives in it.
There are no monuments of note in the church nor antiquities in the parish.

Visitation AD 1709

(a) Ordination Gilbert Bristol 29 December 1689.
Institution 2 Induction 4 January 1704.
Families 13: souls 82; of which 3 dissenters: a Jew and 2 Quakers.
(c) No public gift or benefaction, save a parcell of land, value 17 shillings 6 pence given towards the repair of the church.
Grosse abuse with relation to the glebe land, to be enquired into.
Communicants but 10 at Easter last.

Visitation AD 1712

Families 15: one Quaker: one Jew.
The Vicar resides in his Vicarege house.
None come to church un-baptized; some not confirmed.
Divine service twice every Lord’s Day.
Catechizing uncertain; when children come to be examined.
Communions 4 times a year; about 7 or 8 receive. Notice duly given.
No pennances nor commutations since my last Visitation.