[2] An early step towards establishing freedom of religion in Great Britain and Ireland, it was cut short by the Glorious Revolution.
The Declaration granted broad religious freedom in England by suspending penal laws enforcing conformity to the Church of England and allowing people to worship in their homes or chapels as they saw fit, and it ended the requirement of affirming religious oaths before gaining employment in government office.
By use of the royal suspending power, the king lifted the religious penal laws and granted toleration to the various Christian denominations, Catholic and Protestant, within his kingdoms.
Some Anglicans objected to the fact that the Declaration had no specified limits and thus, at least in theory, licensed the practice of any religion, including Islam, Judaism, or paganism.
[8] The English Declaration of Indulgence was reissued on 27 April 1688, leading to open resistance from Anglicans.