The Church of England and the Bangorian Controversy, 1716-1721 (Studies in Modern British Religious History) (Studies in Modern British Religious History) (Studies in Modern British Religious History)

The Bangorian Controversy was the most bitterly fought ideological battle of eighteenth-century England. Benjamin Hoadly, the low-church Bishop of Bangor, brought the wrath of his fellow churchmen upon himself when he preached his sermon The nature of the Kingdom, or church, or Christ before the king in 1717: it denied the spiritual authority of the church, and was a call for a further Reformation. The struggle that followed was bitter, with far-reaching consequences. This first full-length study of the Controversy highlights its relationship with the 'Whig schism', illuminating an important aspect of the early career of Robert Walpole; it also brings out the theological and political tensions within English society during this era. High churchmen, low churchmen, Dissenters and deists all published their own controversial works, taking positions for or against the Bishop of Bangor. The Church of England and the Bangorian Controversy is therefore an outline of the ideological landscape of English society as it entered the Georgian age. ANDREW STARKIE is Curate in the Diocese of Newcastle. Table of Contents Locating the Bangorian Controversy Religion and the whig schism Culture and contention The anatomy of the controversy Poperies and Reformations The hermeneutics of heresy The politics of piety The first full account of the vital struggle for Church and State in England after the accession of George I. The Bangorian Controversy was the most bitterly fought ideological battle of eighteenth-century England. Benjamin Hoadly, the low-church Bishop of Bangor, brought the wrath of his fellow churchmen upon himself when he preached his sermon 'The nature of the Kingdom, or church, or Christ' before the king in 1717: it denied the spiritual authority of the church, and was a call for a further Reformation. The struggle that followed was bitter, with far-reaching consequences. This first full-length study of the Controversy highlights its relationship with the 'Whig schism', illuminating an important aspect of the early career of Robert Walpole; it also brings out the theological and political tensions within English society during this era. High churchmen, low churchmen, Dissenters and deists all published their own controversial works, taking positions for or against the Bishop of Bangor. 'The Church of England and the Bangorian Controversy' is therefore an outline of the ideological landscape of English society as it entered the Georgian age. ANDREW STARKIE is Curate in the Diocese of Newcastle

The Bangorian Controversy was the most bitterly fought ideological battle of eighteenth-century England. Benjamin Hoadly, the low-church Bishop of Bangor, brought the wrath of his fellow churchmen upon himself when he preached his sermon The nature of the Kingdom, or church, or Christ before the king in 1717: it denied the spiritual authority of the church, and was a call for a further Reformation. The struggle that followed was bitter, with far-reaching consequences. This first full-length study of the Controversy highlights its relationship with the 'Whig schism', illuminating an important aspect of the early career of Robert Walpole; it also brings out the theological and political tensions within English society during this era. High churchmen, low churchmen, Dissenters and deists all published their own controversial works, taking positions for or against the Bishop of Bangor. The Church of England and the Bangorian Controversy is therefore an outline of the ideological landscape of English society as it entered the Georgian age. ANDREW STARKIE is Curate in the Diocese of Newcastle.

"The Bangorian Controversy was the most bitterly fought ideological battle of eighteenth-century England. This first full-length study of the Controversy highlights its relationship with the 'Whig schism', illuminating an important aspect of the early career of Robert Walpole; it also brings out the theological and political tensions within English society during this era. High churchmen, low churchmen, Dissenters and deists all published their own controversial works, taking positions for or against the Bishop of Bangor. The Church of England and the Bangorian Controversy is therefore an outline of the ideological landscape of English society as it entered the Georgian age."--Jacket CONTENTS......Page 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 8 1. Locating the Bangorian controversy......Page 10 2. Religion and the whig schism......Page 28 3. Culture and contention......Page 58 4. The anatomy of the controversy......Page 82 5. Poperies and Reformations......Page 112 6. The hermeneutics of heresy......Page 135 7. The politics of piety......Page 164 CONCLUSION......Page 197 APPENDIX I: New pamphlets per month......Page 201 APPENDIX II: Pamphlet map of the Bangorian controversy......Page 202 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......Page 211 INDEX ......Page 262