Why did Henry Purcell write relatively few church works after 1685?

The decline in Henry Purcell’s production of church music after 1685 may be attributed to a few factors. Primarily, the Chapel Royal experienced a period of decline during the reigns of James II and William and Mary, which may have reduced the demand for or support of such works.1

Alternatively, Purcell may have simply shifted his focus toward other creative outlets. During this time, he was increasingly occupied with composing music for the stage and court odes, leaving him with less time or inclination to dedicate to church music. While he had previously written most of his anthems—both full anthems and verse anthems—between 1680 and 1685, his later output in this genre was limited, with the notable exception of the festal Te Deum and Jubilate composed in 1694.1