Synopses & Reviews
Many of the key improvements to social conditions in the United Kingdom have been made by Christians. Most of us would be able to think of such key Anglican figures as William Wilberforce, Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury or Dr Thomas Barnardo, but lesser known contributions were made behind the scenes by significant members of the Non-Conformist Churches. This book traces the Free Church contribution to society from 1800 to the present day. It looks at the work of campaigners, co-operative societies, philanthropists and politicians, and traces the ways in which conditions in slums, education, and industry were improved, including work with women and with black and ethnic minorities.
There is a growing interest in the part the churches can play today in community development and in the building of social capital. This book will show that some of the things now seen as government initiatives had their origins in the work of Free Church pioneers.
Synopsis
An historical account of the Non-Conformist contribution to social welfare in Britain, from 1800 to the present day.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Kirsty Thorpe \ 1. The Free Churches and their Nation
Stephen Orchard \ 2. Congregations and Community
Robert Pope \ 3. Conscience and Politics
David Bebbington \ 4. Providers and Protagonists in the Nation's Education
Stephen Orchard \ 5. Industry, Philanthropy and Christian Citizenship: Pioneers in Paternalism
Clyde Binfield \ 6. Slums and Salvation
Peter Catterall \ 7. Campaigners and co-operative societies
David Thompson \ 8. The Welfare State and Beyond: the Reshaping of Community Work
Lesley Husselbee \ 9. Living out of History
Paul Ballard \ Bibliography \ Index