Religion and Society in England, 1850-1914 (Social History in Perspective)

Victorians liked to refer to England as 'a Christian country'. But what did this mean at the level of everyday life? The book begins with a social portrait of each of the characteristic forms of religion that flourished in Victorian England, including Anglican, Dissenters, Catholics, Jews, Secularists and the indifferent. It goes on to analyse, making extensive use of oral history, the pervasive and many-sided influence of Christianity before considering the limits of this influence. The forms of Christianity most typical of this time are then considered, with special emphasis on Evangelism at home and abroad and differences between male and female religiosity. Finally, there is an extended discussion on the religious crises of the later Victorian and Edwardian period. Religion was a basic source of identity in Victorian England. The overwhelming majority of the population claimed membership of one of five religious or anti-religious communities - the Anglicans, Nonconformists, Roman Catholics, Jews or Secularists. The book begins with portraits of these major communities, drawing on recent research vividly highlighting the distinctive social profile of each. But how did these religious or anti-religious identities affect people's daily lives? The central part of the book tries to answer this question, drawing especially on oral history evidence. Church-going, Bible-reading, Sunday-observance and hymn-singing were all a major part of life for a considerable part of the population. At the same time, Church and Chapel were pervasive presences, even for those less strongly committed. They had a central part in education and charity, an important influence on leisure, and a many-sided role in politics. None the less, there were sections of the population and areas of life where religious influences remained relatively superficial. Both sides of the picture are presented, and in particular the book analyses the complex and contradictory role of religion as both an instrument of social discipline and an inspiration to social criticism. . Victorian England was the focus both of great religious dynamism and of deep-seated crisis. The latter part of the book explores the upsurge of evangelistic activity both at home and overseas, and the broadening of the churches' social concern, before concluding with an extended discussion of the religious crisis of the later Victorian and Edwardian years. This period saw a growth in religious doubt or unbelief, a sharp drop in church-going, and a shrinking of the churches' social role. The book examines the evidence and evaluates the many, and contradictory, theories that have been advanced to explain why this happened. "Religion was a basic source of identity in Victorian England. The overwhelming majority of the population claimed membership of one of five religious or anti-religious communities - the Anglicans, Nonconformists, Roman Catholics, Jews or Secularists. The book begins with portraits of these major communities, drawing on recent research vividly highlighting the distinctive social profile of each." "But how did these religious or anti-religious identities affect people's daily lives? The central part of the book tries to answer this question, drawing especially on oral history evidence. Both sides of the picture are presented, and in particular the book analyses the complex and contradictory role of religion as both an instrument of social discipline and an inspiration to social criticism." "Victorian England was the focus both of great religious dynamism and of deep-seated crisis. The latter part the book explores the upsurge of evangelistic activity both at home and overseas, and the broadening of the churches' social concern, before concluding with an extended discussion of the religious crisis of the later Victorian and Edwardian years."--BOOK JACKET Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-10 Patterns of Religious Belonging....Pages 11-70 A Christian Country?....Pages 71-133 Signs of the Times....Pages 134-168 The Religious Crisis....Pages 169-220 Conclusion....Pages 221-224 Back Matter....Pages 225-267

This book begins with a social portrait of each of the characteristic forms of religion and irreligion that flourished in Victorian England, including Anglicans, Dissenters, Catholics, Jews, Secularists, and the indifferents.

Hugh Mcleod. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 255-261) And Index.