Test Act

Act of Parliament passed in England in 1673, more than 100 years after similar legislation in Scotland, requiring holders of public office to renounce the doctrine of transubstantiation and take the sacrament in an Anglican church, thus excluding Catholics, Nonconformists, and non‐Christians from office. Its clauses were repealed in 1828–29. Scottish tests were abolished in 1889. In Ireland the Test Act was introduced in 1704 and English legislation on oaths of allegiance and religious declarations were made valid there in 1782. All these provisions were abolished in 1871.

The University Test Act of 1871 abolished the theological test required for the MA degree and for Oxford University and College offices.