Atheists living in 18th century England?

Question

I'm wondering how atheists were treated in England during the year 1799 (or was there a time when being an atheist would be more difficult rather that 1799?). My hero moves to a small village in England, a very Christianly strict village. Would people actually try to kick the hero out of the village by force, which might later move to violence?? But wasn't England a place where one might chose their own religion--or not have a religion at all??

Answer 1

If he's smart he'd lie low about it. Yes, things were getting somewhat more open by then, but remember, 1799 is still *before* Percy Shelley got expelled from college for writing a pamphlet on athiesm. In a large city, it's possible he could be open about it with few reprecussions, but not in the circumstance you're describing.