Lords. A significant obstacle to all kings of England had been the presence of bishops in the Lords. While a king could create peers, it was much more difficult for him to move bishops into and out of the Lords. Sermon and aftermath The sermon was immediately published and instantly drew counterattacks. William Law (Three Letters to the Bishop of Bangor) and Thomas Sherlock (dean of Chichester), in particular, gave vigorous defences of church polity. Hoadly himself wrote A Reply to the Representations of Convocation to answer Sherlock, Andrew Snape, provost of Eton, and Francis Hare, then dean of Worcester. The three men, and another opponent, Robert Moss, dean of Ely, were deprived of their royal chaplaincies by the king. Hoadly did not, however, attempt to answer William Law. It has been claimed that in all, over 200 pamphlets linked to the controversy were published by 53 writers. Of those, 74 were published in July 1717. In May 1717, the Convocation appointed a committee to study the sermon. When the report was ready for synodal sanction against Hoadly, the king dismissed the convocation, which did not meet again for over 130 years. Timeline of publications See also 1716 in literature 1717 in literature 1718 in literature References Further reading Cross, F. A., ed. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 1964. London: Oxford University Press. Church of England and the Bangorian controversy, 1716–1721. Andrew Starkie: 2007: Boydell Press. 18th-century controversies History of the Church of England 18th century in England Protestantism-related controversies 1717 in Christianity 18th-century Protestantism