Savoy Conference

The Savoy Conference of 1661, convened by Gilbert Sheldon following Charles II's Restoration, aimed to reconcile divisions within the Church of England by revising the Book of Common Prayer. The conference took place at the Savoy Hospital in London from April 15 to around mid-August, with sessions ending in deadlock by June. Attended by 12 Anglican bishops and 12 commissioners representing Puritan and Presbyterian factions, along with deputies, it sought to address liturgical and governance issues. Richard Baxter proposed a new liturgy for the Presbyterians, but it was rejected, leaving the Church of England with internal tensions and prompting many dissenters to form non-conformist groups. The conference's failure led to the 1662 Act of Uniformity, enforcing the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and resulting in the Great Ejection of non-compliant clergy. Commissioners included notable bishops and deputies from both sides, though Roger Drake, intended as a Presbyterian deputy, did not attend due to a clerical error. Publications related to the conference include "Order of the Savoy Conference," Charles Woodruff Shields' work on the Book of Common Prayer, and Daniel Neal's history of the Puritans.