The Probert Encyclopaedia of General Information

RECUSANT

A recusant is a person who refuses to attend his parish church on holy days. Attendance was rendered compulsory by an Act of 1581, and many other statutes to the same effect passed down until 1688. The Religious Disabilities Act of 1846 abolished fines for non-attendance and relieved in toto those who usually attend some other place of worship, such as a Mosque.
Research Recusant