William Laud (1573-1644). Archbishop of Canterbury 1633-1640. At a time of puritan unrest, he tried to steer the Church of England back towards its Catholic heritage, with a form of worship focused on the sacraments. His legacy in parish churches is the range of communion rails he advocated, which should be so designed as not to allow dogs to enter the sanctuary. As if this didn't make him unpopular enough, he advocated the divine right of Charles I to be King. The King's execution was followed shortly by his own; much of William Dowsing's time was spent putting Laud's work to right..