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Institutions and illusions: the dilemma of the modern ecclesiastical historian

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2016

Keith Robbins
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Extract

The modern ecclesiastical historian is an uncertain and hesitant creature; an acute case, it may be thought, of status deprivation. He looks with envy at his august and serene colleagues who have the history of the medieval church as their field of study. He knows that they are in process of uncovering the different layers of belief in medieval or early modern society. It is, no doubt, an illusion to suppose that an ‘age of faith’ ever existed. Nevertheless, at all levels of society, the church seems to be central to the life of the time. If we consider the reformation or counter-reformation periods, church questions seem to be in the forefront. The ‘Wars of Religion’ may not be at bottom about religion, but we cannot avoid some consideration of religious issues.

Type
Research Article
Information
Studies in Church History , Volume 11: The Materials Sources and Methods of Ecclesiastical History , 1975 , pp. 355 - 365
Copyright
Copyright © Ecclesiastical History Society 1975

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References

1 Clark’s, Kitson Dr interesting Churchmen and the Condition of England 1832-1885 (London 1973)Google Scholar for example, largely equates churchmen with the clergy of the established church.

2 Barth, K., Protestant Theology in the Nineteenth Century; its background and history (London 1972)Google Scholar: Ramsey, A.M., From Gore To Temple (London 1960)Google Scholar; Reardon, B.M.G., From Coleridge to Gore (London 1972)Google Scholar; Welch, C., Protestant Thought in the Nineteenth Century I. 170.0-1870 (New Haven 1972)Google Scholar.

3 Whyte, J.H., Church and State in Modem Ireland (Dublin 1971)Google Scholar.

4 Campbell, R.J., The New Theology (London 1907)Google Scholar; Campbell, R.J., Christianity and the Social Order (London 1907)Google Scholar; Boulton, J.T. (ed), Lawrence in Love (Nottingham 1968) p 140 Google Scholar; Vidler, A.R., Twentieth Century Defenders of the Faith (London 1965) pp 26-8Google Scholar; Thompson, P., Socialists, Liberals and Labour (London 1967) pp 23-4Google Scholar.