Prohibition of Disturbance of Worship Act, 1719

PROHIBITION OF DISTURBANCE OF WORSHIP ACT 1719

CHAPTER V.

An Act for exempting the Protestant Dissenters of this Kingdom from certain Penalties, to which they are now subject.

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Dissenting ministers or teachers, taking said oaths, &c. not liable to penalties 17 & 18 C. 2. 6. for officiating, &c. in congregation permitted by this act.

VIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no person, being a protestant dissenting from the church of Ireland, in holy orders, or pretended holy orders, or pretending to holy orders, or any preacher or teacher of any congregation of dissenting protestants, that shall make and subscribe the declaration aforesaid, and take the said oaths at the general or quarter sessions of the peace to be held for the county, town, part, place, or division, where such person lives, which court is hereby impowered to administer the same, shall be liable to the penalty of one hundred pounds, or any other pains or penalties mentioned in an act made in the seventeenth and eighteenth years of the reign of King Charles the second, intituled, An act for the uniformity of publick prayers and administration of sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies; and for establishing the form of making, ordaining, and consecrating bishops, priests, and deacons in the church of Ireland; for consecrating or administering the sacrament of the Lord's supper; or for preaching or officiating in any congregation permitted and allowed by this act for the exercise of religion.[a]

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Disturbers of any congregation permitted shall find two sureties in 50l. to appear next sessions, or committed till then.

Penalty on conviction 20l. to the King.

XIV. Provided always, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons at any time or times after the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and nineteen do or shall willingly, and of purpose, maliciously or contemptuously, come into any cathedral or parish-church, chappel, or other congregation permitted by this act, and disquiet or disturb the same, or misuse any preacher or teacher, such person or persons, upon proof thereof before any justice of the peace by two or more sufficient witnesses, shall find two sureties, to be bound by recognizance in the penal sum of fifty pounds, to appear at the next general or quarter sessions to be held for the county, wherein such offence shall be committed, and in default of such sureties shall be committed to prison, there to remain till the next general or quarter sessions, and, upon conviction of the said offence at the said general or quarter sessions, shall suffer the pain and penalty of twenty pounds, to the use of the King's Majesty, his heirs and successors.

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Certificates thereof to be given, paying 6d.

Persons taking the oaths, &c. exempted from all penalties incurred by 2 Eliz. 2. or 17 & 18 C. 2. 6.

[XVI.] Provided always, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all and every person and persons, that shall take the said oaths, and make and subscribe the declaration as aforesaid, shall be exempted and discharged from all pains, penalties, and forfeitures, hitherto incurred by virtue of the herein before mentioned statute made in the second year of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, or of one other statute made in the seventeenth and eighteenth years of the reign of King Charles the second, intituled, An act for the uniformity of publick prayers, and administration of the sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies; and for establishing the form of making, ordaining, and consecrating bishops, priests, and deacons in the church of Ireland.

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[(a)That is to say, Protestant Dissenters taking the oaths prescribed by s. 1. of this Act, which is repealed by 34 & 35 Vict. c. 48. s. 1.]