Religion and Society in England, 1850-1914

'Professor McLeod's argument is persuasive, avoiding the simpler extremes of some earlier work. The book will be valuable for students, and all who wish to obtain an overview of the current historiographical trends.' - David M. Thompson, Journal of Theological Studies '...a model of lucid analysis.' - James Obelkevish, English History Review 'If all the volumes in Macmillan's series Social History in Perspective are as good as Hugh McLeod's Religion and Society in England, 1850-1914, it will be a fascinating series and well worth collecting.' - Expository Times '(A) valuable addition to the literature on Victorian religion. McLeod offers an expansive and accessible, yet subtle interpretation of the entire scene.' - Ecclesiastical History 'A valuable study.' - International Review of Biblical Studies

It goes on to analyse, making extensive use of oral history, the pervasive and many-sided influence of Christianity before considering the limits of this influence. The forms of Christianity most typical of this time are then considered, with special emphasis on Evangelism at home and abroad and differences between male and female religiosity.Victorians liked to refer to England as 'a Christian country'. But what did this mean at the level of everyday life? The book begins with a social portrait of each of the characteristic forms of religion that flourished in Victorian England, including Anglican, Dissenters, Catholics, Jews, Secularists and the indifferent. It goes on to analyse, making extensive use of oral history, the pervasive and many-sided influence of Christianity before considering the limits of this influence. The forms of Christianity most typical of this time are then considered, with special emphasis on Evangelism at home and abroad and differences between male and female religiosity. Finally, there is an extended discussion on the religious crises of the later Victorian and Edwardian period.