Nonjurorism is a term used to describe those who refused to swear allegiance to the Church of England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The spelling of this word can be broken down using International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols as /nɒn.dʒʊə.rɪ.zm/. The first syllable "non" is pronounced with a short "o" sound followed by an "n" consonant and then "dʒ" as in "judge." The second syllable "ju" is pronounced with a long "u" sound and the third syllable "rism" is pronounced with a short "i" sound and "zm" as in "prism."
Nonjurorism is a term referring to a religious and political movement that emerged in England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The term specifically relates to those who refused to take the oaths of allegiance to a new sovereign or government. In the context of the Church of England, Nonjurorism pertains to members of the clergy who declined to acknowledge the authority of William III and Mary II after the Glorious Revolution in 1688-1689. These nonjurors believed that the oath of allegiance violated their religious conscience and loyalty to the former monarch, James II.
Nonjurorism involves a refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the ruling power, whether it be a monarch or a government. It is characterized by loyalty to a former authority or tradition, often driven by religious conviction. Nonjurors who did not take the oaths were expelled from their positions within the Church of England and faced various degrees of persecution and marginalization.
The movement had significant implications beyond religious matters. Nonjurors challenged the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and justified their resistance by appealing to divine right and divine providence. They viewed themselves as defenders of the English tradition and the rightful authority of the Stuart monarchy. However, over time, the influence and relevance of Nonjurorism waned, particularly as subsequent generations became less connected to the events of the Glorious Revolution.
The word "Nonjurorism" is derived from the combination of two terms: "nonjuring" and "ism".
1. "Nonjuring" refers to a historical event in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which saw the ascension of William III and Mary II to the English throne, the Church of England underwent significant changes. Some Anglican clergy and laity refused to pledge allegiance to the new monarchs and take the required oaths of loyalty, which included abjuring the Catholic James II. These Anglicans who did not take the oath were known as "nonjurors", derived from the Latin "non iurare", meaning "not to swear".
2. The suffix "ism" is commonly added to words to form nouns indicating a specific doctrine, system, or principle.