The Church of England 1688-1835: Unity and Accord
William Gibson
Routledge (London, UK: 2000)
This volume presents a wide-ranging history of a key period in the history of the Church in England, from the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688-89 to the Great Reform Act of 1832. This was a tumultuous time for both church and state, when the relationship between religion and politics was at its most fraught.
The book considers the consequences of these important events and the rapid changes they brought to the Anglican Church and to national politics. Aspects of the social history of the Church are also discussed, including the role of the Church in 18th-century culture, and the development of nationhood. Anglican attitudes to European Protestantism and Methodism are also evaluated.
Drawing on a wide range of contemporary sources, the book presents evidence of the widespread Anglican commitment to harmony between those of differing religious views, and suggests that high and low churchmanship was less divergent than usually assumed. The overall aim is to provide both a detailed history of the Church in the 18th century and a fresh re-evaluation of the nature of Anglicanism and its role in society.
Introduction
Historians
and the Eighteenth Century
The
Anglican Revolution
The
Development of the Church's Relations with the State: from the Convocation
Controversy to Catholic Emancipation
Church
Leadership in the Aftermath of Toleration
The
Church and Culture
The
Unity of Protestants
The
Church and National Identity
Conclusion
288
pages