This work investigates the complex political and ecclesiastical processes involved in the restoration of the Church of England following the collapse of the Cromwellian protectorate. I. M. Green, a noted scholar of the period, utilizes extensive primary source documentation, including parliamentary records and contemporary correspondence, to analyze the legislative and social mechanisms that facilitated the return of the Anglican establishment. The book argues that the re-establishment was not a singular event but a contested, multi-year negotiation between the monarchy, parliament, and various religious factions.

Historians recognize this monograph as a foundational text for understanding the institutional reconstruction of the Church of England in the 17th century. Scholars frequently cite the work for its rigorous archival research and its nuanced interpretation of the political constraints faced by the Restoration government.