Yesterday’s Radicals: A Study of the Affinity between Unitarianism and Broad Church Anglicanism in the Nineteenth Century

By D.G. Wigmore-Beddoes

An analysis of the affinities between Unitarianism and the Broad Church movement within 19th-century Anglicanism.

ISBN: 9780227170601

Description

The author defines Yesterday’s Radicals as nineteenth-century Anglican Broad Churchmen and Unitarians, and aims in his book to demonstrate the affinities between them and the manners in which they influenced each other. The Broad Churchmen constituted the progressive wing of the Anglican Church, who were interested in science, Biblical criticism, a rational approach to religion, and who were leaders in the attempt to relate the Church’s teaching to the new thoughts and conditions of the nineteenth century. But they were not alone. The Unitarians were possessed of a similar spirit, and came to regard reason and conscience as the criteria of belief and practice.

This book demonstrates the growing respect between them, as they tried to grapple with the problems of their day. It lucidly takes the reader through the ramifications and complexities of Biblical criticism, and discusses the answers given to the problems of Biblical inspiration and miracles, amongst others. It demonstrates how Unitarians and Broad Churchmen affected each other, and that much of which is now taken for granted in enlightened theological circles was developed by Yesterday’s Radicals.

The author traverses territory not previously opened up in this way, for the affinity between these groups has hitherto not been the subject of analysis. This pioneering study was awarded the Earl Morse Wilbur Prize for Historical Research.

Additional information

Dimensions 216 × 140 mm
Pages 188
Format

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Trade Information JPOD

About the Author

After teaching experience at a School of Art, a public school and several ministries in England, The Reverend Dennis G. Wigmore-Beddoes MA, FRSA, became Minister of The First Presbyterian Church, Belfast, in October 1968. He is Editor of The Modern Free Churchman.

Contents

Foreword
Preface
Prologue

1. Historical Introduction
2. The Affinity Shown in the Approach to Higher Criticism
3. The Affinity Shown in the Attitude Towards Biblical Inspiration, Miracles,
     Everlasting Punishment, and the Divinity of Christ
4. The Affinity Shown in the Use of Traditional Language, in Liturgical
     Practice, and in Architectural Style
5. The Affinity Shown in Mutual Interaction
6. The Affinity Shown in the Commitment to the Idea of a Broad Church
7. Conclusion: The Nature of the Affinity

Bibliography
Index

Extracts