The Church of England and British Politics Since 1900

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During the twentieth century, the relationship between the Church of England and the British state was transformed. The character and dynamics of the connections shifted as politics became more democratic and society more secular; the role of the Crown and parliament in Church government was curtailed, and the Christian foundations of secular law were weakened. Yet the increasing formal separation of Church and state was not accompanied by ecclesiastical disengagement from politics and government. Despite falling membership, the Church of England continued - and continues - to wield influence on political and social issues in Britain.

This volume of essays brings together researchers in modern British religious, political, intellectual and social history to consider the relationships between the Church, the state and British politics from 1900 to recent times. The introduction reviews the developing literature on these relationships and sets an agenda for further study, while the essays which follow consider aspects of the complex intersections of Church, state and politics: in parliament, party politics and the parish; on the nature of the Church establishment and conceptions of national identity, in religious and sexual education; on colonial and foreign policies; and on race and the multi-faith society. In these various ways, the volume shows that pronouncements on a modern demise of ecclesiastical influence in political life have been premature.

THOMAS RODGER is Associate Fellow, Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria, British Columbia.

PHILIP WILLIAMSON is Professor of British History at Durham University.

MATTHEW GRIMLEY is a Fellow of Merton College Oxford.

Contributors: Arthur Burns, Andrew Connell, Hannah Elias, Robert Freathy, S.J.D. Green, Matthew Grimley, Daniel S. Loss, Stephen Parker, Laura Ramsey, Thomas Rodger, Julia Stapleton, Sarah Stockwell, Peter Webster, Philip Williamson