CONTENTS THE GENERAL STATE OF THE CHURCH. French Revolution and war-Low state of morals and religion-Pluralities The party had not died out-Evidences of its existence-Jones of Nayland ---William Stevens-Joshua Watson-J. J. Watson-H. H. Norris- Christopher Wordsworth-C. Daubeny-T. Sikes-Hugh James Rose -Sympathetic prelates-Other prominent sympathizers-Old and new PAGE I Charles Simeon-Isaac Milner-William Farish-Other Cambridge resi- dents-Clapham sect-W. Wilberforce-H. Thornton-Z. Macaulay- J. Stephen-John Venn-Thomas Gisborne-Abolition of the Slave Trade-Evangelicals in London-Evangelicals in the country-Evan- gelical bishops-Evangelical laity-Weak points in the system-Views of "the world "-Views of "the Church"-Alleged degeneracy- Views of "human learning "-Literature and art-Strong points- Holy Communion-Irregularities tolerated-Psalmody-Preaching-Sunday evening services-Week-day services-Want of church accommodation -Pew system-Proprietary chapels-The war prevented church-build- ing-State and voluntary efforts-Difficulties about church-building- Ugliness and costliness of new churches-First free church in England -Squalor of country churches--"A Clergyman's Work, A.D. 1825" . 127 Evidential writings-Practical and devotional works-Biblical literature- Liturgical literature-The Calvinistic controversy-Baptismal Regenera- tion-Biography-Church history-The Roman controversy-Religious Oxford-Cambridge-Other institutions-public schools-Dr. Arnold- Elementary Education - Bell and Lancaster controversy - The National Society-Efforts of the parochial clergy-Sunday schools— Society for the Propagation of the Gospel-Church Missionary Society- Sierra Leone-India-The "five chaplains "-Alarm about prosely- tizing-Lord Teignmouth-Renewal of Company's Charter-Bishop Middleton-Bishop Heber-Four lives sacrificed-Society for Promot- ing Christian Knowledge-Society for Suppression of Vice-Mixed societies The Church and the Bible Society - Private religious Acts of 1801 and 1802-Acts of 1803 and 1804-Services of Mr. Perceval and Lord Liverpool-Acts between 1811 and 1819-Roman Catholic Relief Bill-Repeal of Test and Corporation Acts-The case of Queen THE ENGLISH CHURCH IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. CHAPTER I. THE GENERAL STATE OF THE CHURCH. THE first thirty years of the nineteenth century naturally divide themselves into two equal parts; the first fifteen, when the national mind was occupied with the one subject of the war with France; the next fifteen, when it was adjusting itself to the new condition of things which a period of settled peace brought about. In no department is this division more clearly marked than in the most important of all-that of religion; and, therefore, for a right understanding of the general state of the Church in the early years of our period, the first thing to be done is to inquire how it was affected by the all-absorbing topic of the day. When the nineteenth century dawned, the eyes of all England were turned across the Channel. The ardent sympathy which had been felt by many generous minds with the earlier efforts of the French to throw off oppression had been followed by a violent reaction in the opposite direction. It is true that different opinions existed as to the expediency of continuing the war with France; but there were few bold enough to own that they objected to the war because they approved of the doings of the French in the later stages of the Revolution. A very small minority dared to utter such sentiments with bated breath; but the vast majority were in favour either of war with France to the knife, or else of leaving B one. her to settle her own affairs without interfering in so odious a business. This feeling towards France affected the attitude of Englishmen towards their own Church in more ways than It undoubtedly increased their attachment to that Church, simply because she was a type of all settled institutions; and settled institutions were at all hazards to be upheld when the unsettlement of them in France was giving so fearful a warning. Not undeservedly was the Church regarded as the great bulwark of stability in England. She had been inactive; but there was a vis inertia in her very inactivity which constituted an effectual barrier against all dreaded change. Moreover, her professional inactivity led to her being brought more into contact with the secular life of the nation. Her clergy were, for the most part, no separate caste, but men who mixed freely in social life; not perhaps giving a high spiritual tone to it, but on the whole influencing it for good. The great majority of them were University men, better educated than others of the same social status; and as a body they threw themselves enthusiastically into the antiFrench scale. It is curious to observe how the French Revolution affected the work of the Church in two diametrically opposite ways. On the one hand, it acted as a sort of drag upon her, by rendering men suspicious of any improvement, which was apt to be regarded as a dangerous innovation, savouring of that dreaded thing, Jacobinism. On the other hand, it indirectly, but very really, stimulated her to increased activity. The revolutionary ideas, which in the later years of the eighteenth century undoubtedly leavened the minds of the lower classes, and in some cases led to violent disturbances, showed the Church how little real hold she had upon the masses. In fact, she began to feel rather ashamed of herself for not having done more to instil sound principles, which might have prevented them from becoming the prey of the first charlatan who promised them liberty, equality, and fraternity. In another way the Revolution affected the history of the Church during the early years of the nineteenth century; because the Revolution led to the war, and the war swallowed up the available resources of the nation. After all, Church work cannot go on without money, and money was not forth |