Section 20

Christianity in British Isles

Prominent both in the general life of the islands and its challenge to Christianity was rapid and progressive industrialization

More challenging and perplexing were the altered social conditions produced by the industrial revolution

A concomitant of industrialization was the rising power of the middle classes and declining gentry and aristocracy.

Closely related to the industrialization of the British Isles was a vast and multiform emigration.

England: The Established Church

Taken as a whole, in 1815 the Church of England was far from healthy.

The Evangelicals, although a small minority, were active.

At the outset of the 19^th Century the Evangelicals, although a minority, were the most active and zealous in that church.

Another current making for revival was the Tractarian movement but more often as the Oxford movement.

English Protestant Nonconformity

Was fully as striking as that of the Anglican Communion

Outstripped any other congeries of religious movements in Europe

In the course of the 19^th Century Congregationalists, Baptists, and Methodists, increased greatly, but the Methodists had the largest growth.

Presbyterianism of the Scottish type reappeared, by migration from Scotland.

Movements which crossed denominational borders

Sunday Schools

Young Men’s Christian Association

Young Women’s Christian Association arose in 1850s

In 1894 the World’s Young Women’s Christian Association was organized.

The Irish Story

The Scotch-Irish, in Ulster in the North and predominantly Presbyterian, had suffered from discrimination and been disaffected.

Famine relief by the government and the emigration of more than 1.5 million in ten years after 1847 partly mitigated the misery.

In 1831, a system of schools was inaugurated which worked especially for underprivileged Roman Catholics.

In mid-century Protestants constituted a little less than a fourth of the population.

Shaping Life of the British Isles

In 1914 Christianity was a force in shaping the outlook and the purpose of life.

Led in efforts for various aspects of social reform, some by legislation and others through private philanthropy

Methodists local preachers led in the formation of several of the early labor unions.

Some sought to make Christian principles effective in the actions of the government.