Providence and Empire: Religion, Politics and Society in the United Kingdom, 1815-1914

“This is a splendid account… written in superbly clear prose by a master of the subject, this book provides a unique interpretation of "vital religion" and its changing relation to State and society in the period when Britain was the world's richest and greatest power.” Thomas William Heyck. Professor of History Emeritus, Northwestern University    

 

“Stewart J. Brown’s lucid account will be invaluable for those seeking to understand either society at large in the nineteenth century or the subsequent trajectory of religion in the British Isles.” Professor David Bebbington, University of Stirling

"... A well-researched and richly evocative book, breaking new ground by providing a broad United Kingdom and imperial perspective." Prof John Wolffe, The Open University

 

 

The 19th century was, to a large extent, the ‘British century’. Great Britain was the great world power and its institutions, beliefs and values had an immense impact on the world far beyond its formal empire. 

 

Providence and Empire argues that knowledge of the religious thought of the time is crucial in understanding the British imperial story. The churches of the United Kingdom were the greatest suppliers of missionaries to the world, and there was a widespread belief that Britain had a divine mission to spread Christianity and civilisation, to eradicate slavery, and to help usher in the millennium; the Empire had a providential purpose in the world. 

 

Yet this was also the time of industrialisation, imperialism and the growth of democracy.  Britain was no longer a semi-confessional state, but rather a liberal one in which religious observance was left largely to the choice of the individual.  Providence and Empire explores the continued unravelling of the religious unity in the British state and surveys the transformative effect that moral questions raised by developments in biblical criticism and natural science had on society.

 

This is the first connected narrative of the interactions of religion, politics and society in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales between 1815 and 1914. Providence and Empire is essential reading for any student who wishes to gain an insight into the social, political and cultural life of this period.

 

Stewart J Brown is Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Edinburgh. He has authored and edited many texts including The National Churches of England, Ireland, and Scotland 1801-1846 (2001)

 

The 19th century was, to a large extent, the British century . Great Britain was the great world power and its institutions, beliefs and values had an immense impact on the world far beyond its formal empire.

Providence and Empire argues that knowledge of the religious thought of the time is crucial in understanding the British imperial story. The churches of the United Kingdom were the greatest suppliers of missionaries to the world, and there was a widespread belief that Britain had a divine mission to spread Christianity and civilisation, to eradicate slavery, and to help usher in the millennium; the Empire had a providential purpose in the world.

This is the first connected account of the interactions of religion, politics and society in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales between 1815 and 1914. Providence and Empire is essential reading for any student who wishes to gain an insight into the social, political and cultural life of this period.

This is the first comprehensive overview of the influence of religion on  political and social life in Britain and Ireland at the height of the British Empire.

§         Provides coverage of religion, politics and society in the four historic nations of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales

 

§         Explores the diversification of religious life in Great Britain and the emergence of an environment of religious pluralism

 

§         Considers the impact of revivalism and millenarian thought on nineteenth century religious life.

 

§         Discusses the influence of non-Christian faiths and beliefs in the United Kingdom, especially from the last decades of the nineteenth century

 

§         Explores the ‘Victorian crisis of faith’, including the impact of ‘honest doubt’, moral questioning of Christian teachings, biblical criticism and natural science.

For most of the nineteenth century, the United Kingdom was the great world power.  The industrial revolution brought it unprecedented wealth, and it possessed the largest empire the world had ever seen.

 

During the nineteenth-century the UK was also highly religious.  The evangelical revival had exercised a profound social influence, the churches were powerful institutions, the overwhelming majority of the population were Christian, and the United Kingdom was the main promoter of Protestant overseas missions. 

 

This book explores the religious beliefs and practices among the peoples of the UK during the height of its world influence, and considers the relationship of religion to the profound political and social changes associated with industrialisation, imperialism and the growth of democracy. 

 

It explores the tensions surrounding the state establishment of religion, the role of religion in shaping national and communal identities in Ireland, and the religious controversies emerging from developments in natural science and biblical criticism. 

 

The book gives particular attention to notions of a providential ordering of the world, including the widespread belief that the UK had a divine mission to spread the benefits of Christianity, free trade and civilisation to the wider world, and that its empire existed for a higher purpose.       

Stewart J. Brown has been Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Edinburgh since 1988.  From 2000-2004 he was Dean of the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh

 

He has acted as co-editor of the Scottish Historical Review from 1993 to 1999 and is now Honorary President of the Scottish Church History Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. 

 

He is has written seven books and authored over forty articles for various journals.

Contents

Series Editor's Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Evangelicalism, Empire and Protestant State, 1815-1829
2. The Waning of the Church-State Connection, 1829-1845
3. Commerce, Christianity and Civilisation, 1840-1863
4. Revivalism, Ritualism and Authority, 1859-1876
5. Overseas Crusades and the New Christian Social Conscience, 1875-1896
6. Religious Diversity, Identities and Conflicts, 1896-1914

Select Bibliography

Index