The Reform of the Churching Ceremony in Early Modern England in its Political and Theological Contexts
In studying the ceremony known as the Purification of Women After Childbirth (aka "churching"), scholars have tended to focus mostly on its potential use as a form of control of women and their sexuality. While we cannot dismiss that idea entirely, comparing the liturgical texts against the political and theological contexts of Tudor and Stuart England reveals a new understanding of changes in the rite that reflect contemporary power struggles over religious reform. I compare the timeline of official reform proclamations to revisions in liturgy to reveal the battle between women, state, and laity over the power to reform.
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This page was last updated on 14 March 2025
