Great Ejection (1662)

On August 24, 1662—St. Bartholomew’s Day—the deadline set by England’s Act of Uniformity arrived. Ministers were required to give public assent to the revised Book of Common Prayer, accept episcopal ordination, and submit to prescribed oaths. For many pastors shaped by the Puritan call to purer worship and preaching, these demands touched conscience and the government of Christ’s church. Roughly two thousand ministers refused, not out of stubbornness, but from the conviction that obedience to God cannot be traded for security.

Their decision cost them their pulpits, homes, and income. Congregations in London, the Midlands, and the West Country watched beloved shepherds depart—often quietly, sometimes under public scorn. Yet many ejected ministers left without bitterness, urging their people to pursue holiness, to pray for rulers, and to trust Christ when institutions fail. “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) became more than a slogan; it was the measured resolve of men who would rather be poor than false.

Notable Ministers and Witness

Richard Baxter, associated with Kidderminster, became emblematic of pastoral courage—earnest, learned, and relentless in pressing the claims of the gospel on heart and life. Edmund Calamy and Thomas Manton, prominent in London, labored to keep faith and charity joined together, refusing to let suffering turn into sectarian pride. John Owen, though not ejected in the same manner, shared the broader nonconformist burden and strengthened many through his writing on communion with God.

Many ejected ministers continued preaching in homes and fields, discipling families, and writing sermons and catechetical helps. Their heroism was rarely dramatic; it was patient endurance, the quiet refusal to call evil good, and the steady love of Christ’s flock.

Legacy

The Great Ejection tested the church through loss, poverty, and rejection, yet it also purified motives and displayed steadfast love for Christ and His Word. It reminds believers that the true measure of ministry is not approval, but faithfulness: “Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Through their suffering, many learned to say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper; I will not be afraid” (Hebrews 13:6).