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France in Revolution c.1774-1815

The Church, refractory priests and the Constitution of 1791

  • 3 things to know
  • AS Unit 2 and A2 Unit 4

Overview

Civil Constitution of the Clergy and refractory priest.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Why did the Assembly believe it could reorganise the Church without consulting Rome?

Key term

What was the clerical oath of 1790?

Key term

How did the French clergy divide over the oath?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What was the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

    Model answer

    The law of 1790 that reorganised the Church in France, redrawing dioceses to match the departments, making bishops and priests elected and salaried officials of the state, and reducing the number of bishoprics.

  2. 2

    Why did the Assembly believe it could reorganise the Church without consulting Rome?

    Model answer

    It regarded the arrangement as a matter of administration and discipline rather than doctrine, and the French Church had long claimed liberties against the papacy.

  3. 3

    What was the clerical oath of 1790?

    Model answer

    The requirement that every serving priest swear loyalty to the nation, the law and the King, and so to the Civil Constitution.

  4. 4

    How did the French clergy divide over the oath?

    Model answer

    Roughly half swore and became constitutional clergy, while the rest refused and became refractory or non-juring priests, with the great majority of bishops refusing.

  5. 5

    Define a refractory priest.

    Model answer

    A priest who refused the oath to the Civil Constitution and so lost his official position, though many continued to minister in secret.

  6. 6

    What was the effect of the Pope's condemnation of the Civil Constitution in 1791?

    Model answer

    It forced Catholics to choose between their Church and the Revolution, and some who had already sworn retracted their oaths.

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