Why did William Laud place more importance on ceremony than on preaching?

William Laud’s emphasis on ceremony over preaching was rooted in his belief that outward uniformity, order, and ritual were essential for true inward worship. Influenced by the patristic scholar Lancelot Andrewes, Laud viewed the continuity of the visible church as a priority.1

For Laud, preaching—which Puritans considered the essential task of the ministry—was viewed as a dangerous source of religious division that needed to be strictly curtailed and controlled. Conversely, he believed that enforcing specific ceremonies, such as the use of the Book of Common Prayer, the wearing of surplices, and the proper placement of the communion table, fostered a necessary sense of order and reverence within the church. By beautifying churches and mandating these outward acts of devotion, he sought to unify the church under a consistent, authoritative structure that he felt was inseparable from the strength of the state.1