The Church of England's Experience

'1SAW RELIGION IN ACTION IN THE SHELTERS": THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND'S EXPERIENCE IN WAR-TIME LONDON, 1939 - 1945 Gregory Edwin Dochuk B.A., Simon Fraser University, 1999 THESIS SUBMITED IN PARTIAL FLJLFUMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS In the Department of History @Gregory Edwin Dochuk 20o\ SIMON FRASER UNIVERSlTY May 200 1 Al1 cights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author uisiaans and Acquisitions et raphii Services wtvices bibliographiques The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accord6 une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Biôlioth&quenationale du Canada de reproduce, lm, distriiute or seiî reproduire, prêter, disûibuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la fome de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format dectronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propiété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent ëtre imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstract The study of Britain during World War il often centers upon the effects of the war experience on the home front. Because the war reached Greater London through bombings, raiioning, evacuation, the threat of invasion, and the total mobilization of the population, many of the institutions that were integrai to traditional notions of community in British society were affected. The extent to which these institutions, and British society as a whole, were transformed irrevocably by the war, however, is the subject of much historical debate. The war certainly resulted in tangible changes such as the election of the Labour Govemment in 1945 and the Beveridge inspired refonns. However, the extent to which the war brought about radical change to the attitudes and ideas chat were inherent in the community in Britain is not as clear. This îhesis will examine how one particular institution was affected by the war: the Church of England. The Church's role in the community has not been dealt with adequatety in social histories of Britain during the war, mostly because the generally accepted view has been chat Britain was a "secularized" nation. More recent historical ünalysis. however, has begun to argue that religion, and the Church of England, continued to play a part in the modem, urban British community during the first haif of the twentieth century. Moreover, while religious institutions are often viewed solely as conveyors of religion, there is also a sense of social responsibility through which these institutions connect with, and contribute to, the rest of society; balancing the two was an important debate for members of the Church of England because it was the established church in Britain. Because of a demh of secondary sources on this topic, the use of primary sources becomes important in order for this thesis to outline how the Church continued to interact with the community. A combination of both types of sources also reveals how religious belief shaped the Church's social purpose during the war years, despite the difficulty the Church had in balancing both responsibilities. At the same cime, the Church continued to be shaped by the war and its experiences with the community, thus resulting in a graduai shift from the more dogrnatic perspective of the interwar period to an emphasis on a more consecvative focus on the practical aspects of Christianity after the war ended. Acknowlednements This thesis could not have ken completed without the encouragement and contribution of a nuhrof people, a few of whom 1 would like to acknowledge here. First, 1 would like to thank the archivists at London Mettopolitan Archives, Lambeth Palace, and Mass Observation at the University of Sussex for their assistance in loçating the prirnary documents necessary to make this thesis effective. At Simon Fraser University, ihanks must go to our Graduate Secretary, Nancy Bumham, for assisting me in the logistics of putting this work togeiher. 1 would also like to thank my second supervisor, Professor Martin Kitchen, and my external examiner, Professor Joy Dixon, for their assistance and feedback during the exarnination process. From an academic standpoint, 1 am great indebted to my prirnary supervisor, Professor John Stubbs, for his encouragement io pursue this topic to the furthest degree, and for ailowing me the oppominity to research overseas. As well, his tireless effons in looking over every Mt of every chapter carefully and thoroughly helped me to becorne a better writer and historian in the process. There are a number of people at Simon Fraser University that desewe acknowledgement here, primady those in the graduate student body that served as my office mates, my classmates, my fellow TAS, and who listened to me when 1 had frustrations or problerns. Of ihese, a few deserve speciai credit for making my Mastes' an enjoyable experience (for the most piut): Christian Nielson, my "buddy" Ursula Gurney. James Rosenzweig, Sebastian Lukasik, and Greg Elliot. 1 wish them, and the others who are too numerous to mention. al1 the best in their future endeavors. 1 would also like to acknowledge the encouragement and support of those in my family: my parents, George and Martha Dochuk, my in-laws, John and Susan Borne; my brother and sister in-law, Darren and Debra Dochuk, and my sister and brother in-law, Mike and Tetyana Klassen, who, despite being halfway across the continent, provided encouragement thmugh emails, phone calls, and the occasional visit to Vancouver; and my brocher in-law and sister in- law, Gary and Robyn Borne, who saw the process more first hand. Lm,but cenainly not least, much of the credit for the completion of this thesis must go to my wife, lanelle, who endured a two-year adventure with endless support and encouragement. It is safe to say that this thesis could not have been achieved without her assistance, and 1 cannot express my gratitude to her enough in such a srnall space as this. TABLE OF CONTENTS .. Approval Page .....................,.......................................................................................II Acknowledgements............................. ..... ......................................................................iv Introduction ............................. ........................................U ............................................. 1 Chapter One "A WORLD WHERE MAN IS AT WAR WITH COD AND WITH EACH 0THER9': THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND'S RELIGIOUS APPROACH TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR ................... .... 19 Chapter Two b'R13LIGIONIN ACTION": THE CHURCH AND THE WEST LONDON LOCAL COMMUNITY ..........................................................46 Chapter Three "ARTER THIS. .. WHAT?": THE CHURCH'S PREPARATION AND FOST-WAR REALITIES..................... ............................... 74 Conclusion.............................................................................................................. 99 IntrmIucîion On 3 September 1939, Britain entend the second major war in a generation against the Gennans. Unlike World War One, however, the reception of the news that Britain had declared war against the Nazis was anticipated, and therefore more subdued than ai the beginning of the First. The reality of ihe disruption of another war was a prospect few looked forward to. Since the declaration of war by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain occurred on a Sunday, many people in the community heard the news from the pulpit of their locd church. with the news followed by prayers and the first air raid waming of the war. For many other regular churchgoers, however, the news was received at home in front of the radio set; it was far too important a tirne to be at church. The symbolism of this first day of war with regard to religion is indicative of the prevailing relationship that the churches, including the Church of England, would have with the community over the next six years. The disruptions and challenges for the Church were imbued in the very first day of the conflict, and would not cease until it finished in 1945. The influence that the Second World War had upon British society has ken a source of intense historicd discussion since 1945. The debate over the extent to which society changed during and because of the war. and, in particular, the effects it had on the local population is also central to any smdy of post-war ri tain.' In many ways the dismptions and obstacles encountered during the war years changed perceptions and triuiitional definitions of what constituted a community. In many ways, however, the war dso signaled a desire for a return to traditional ideas of British society after the uncertainty of the interwar period. This thesis contributes to, and is framed by, this historical debate. The focus in this work is on the physical and spiritual duties of the Church of England in London during the Second World War. It involves an analysis of how much the Church contributed to the maintenance of society, and to what degree it changed at the local community leve1 because of its own war I For more on the framework of this historiographical discussion see Chapter Three of his thesis. experience. Throughout its histoq

Load more