God and Greater Britain - Religion and National Life in Britain and Ireland, 1843-1945 (Hardcover)

This work is an examination of the crucial aspects of the relationship between religion and national consciousness in Britain and Ireland at a pivotal period in the history of both countries. Transcending the narrow limits of traditional "church history", it nevertheless demonstrates the centrality of religion in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as England, in that period. An exploration of various approaches to the history of religion and nationality is John Wolffe's starting place. He continues by describing and analyzing the place of religion in 19th and early-20th-century society. The focus is particularly on the impact of evangelicism and the Catholic revival, and on the differing manifestations of official and unofficial religion. The second part of the book builds on this foundation to relate religion more explicitly to issues of politics, culture and nationality. It opens with some verbal "snapshots", portraying the various dimensions of the situation around 1850, and continues with chapters concentrating on politics, and on theology and national cultures.