Troublesome Priests: Christianity and Marxism in the Church of England, 1906-1969
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Troublesome Priests: Christianity and Marxism in the Church of England, 1906-1969 A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Master of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2014 Edward Poole School of Arts, Languages and Cultures Table of Contents Abbreviations 3 Abstract 4 Declaration and Copyright Statement 5 Introduction: The Church of England and Marxism 6 “Proud Socialist Parson”: Robert William Cummings 29 Catholic Crusader: Conrad Noel 59 The Red Dean: Hewlett Johnson 91 A Priest in the Party: Alan Ecclestone 126 Conclusion 159 Bibliography 166 The total word count for this thesis is 48,575. 2 Abbreviations Alan Ecclestone Papers, Sheffield Archives AEP Christian Social Union CSU Church Socialist League CSL Conrad Noel Papers, Hull History Centre CNP Guild of St. Matthew GSM Hewlett Johnson Papers, University of Kent at Canterbury HJP Independent Labour Party ILP Labour History Archive and Study Centre, People’s History Museum LHA Lambeth Palace Library LPL Tameside Local Studies and Archives TLSA Working Class Movement Library WCML 3 Abstract This thesis argues that the relationship between Anglican Christianity and Marxism in Britain between 1906 and 1969 has been far more complex than is commonly understood. It is often assumed that the relationship between religious organisations and Marxism has often been acrimonious, the latter famously rejecting religion as the ‘opium of the people’, and religion resisting the revolutionary nature of Marxism. Taking a biographical approach, examining four Church of England clergymen, Robert Cummings, Conrad Noel, Hewlett Johnson and Alan Ecclestone, this thesis shows that some Anglicans saw a philosophical connection between Christianity and Marxism. For these individuals, and others like them, Marxism constituted a strategy to achieve political and economic change, but also a mechanism to actualise the foundation of the Kingdom of God on Earth. Additionally, this thesis considers these clergymen in light of their position as Church of England clergy. Between 1906 and 1969, each of them held livings as vicars of various parishes, with Johnson becoming Dean of first Manchester and then Canterbury. This affords the opportunity to consider the responses of the Church and the nature of the Church of England in tolerating radical priests. The commitments that these clergymen made to Marxism grew from their Christian beliefs, and these commitments differentiate these individuals from previous and contemporaneous generations of Christian Socialists. Christian Marxism represented a distinct branch of Anglican theology and defined the theology and political philosophy of the group examined herein, influenced their ministry and their social and theological work. This thesis provides a new perspective on the interaction between radical politics and the Church of England in the twentieth century, and demonstrates the new character of the theology and political outlook of the individuals concerned. It also exploits new avenues for research at the intersection between the relevant areas of study. It is based on evidence taken from personal papers, published and unpublished material, official documents and interviews conducted specifically for this study. 4 Declaration No portion of the work referred to in the thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning Copyright Statement i. The author of this thesis (including any appendices and/or schedules to this thesis) owns certain copyright or related rights in it (the “copyright”) and s/he has given The University of Manchester certain rights to use such Copyright, including for administrative purposes. ii. Copies of this thesis, either in full or in extracts and whether in hard or electronic copy, may be made only in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) and regulations issued under it or, where appropriate, in accordance with licensing agreements which the University has from time to time. This page must form part of any such copies made. iii. The ownership of certain Copyright, patents, designs, trade marks and other intellectual property (the “Intellectual Property”) and any reproductions of copyright works in the thesis, for example graphs and tables (“Reproductions”), which may be described in this thesis, may not be owned by the author and may be owned by third parties. Such Intellectual Property and Reproductions cannot and must not be made available for use without the prior written permission of the owner(s) of the relevant Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions iv. Further information on the conditions under which disclosure, publication and commercialisation of this thesis, the Copyright and any Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions described in it may take place is available in the University IP Policy (see http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=487), in any relevant Thesis restriction declarations deposited in the University Library, The University Library’s regulations (see http://www.manchester.ac.uk/library/aboutus/regulations) and in The University’s policy on Presentation of Theses. 5 Introduction: The Church of England and Marxism Religion and Marxism are often seen as irreconcilable, and the relationship between them has often been one of antipathy, in no small part due to the professed atheism of communism. However, communism has also been presented as a secular religion and commentators on Soviet and British communism have identified similarities between the hierarchies of communist and church organisations, the requirement for training for new members, and practices of each side.1 This hyperbole discounts both communist atheism and the fact that not all followers of religion are messianic fanatics,2 but belies the ways in which Christians made an accommodation between Christianity and Marxism. This thesis argues that, despite Marxist atheism, an important minority of Anglican clergymen, specifically Robert Cummings, Conrad Noel, Hewlett Johnson and Alan Ecclestone, reconciled their Christianity and Marxism, both as ideology and practice. This thesis demonstrates that this accommodation was made in a range of political and Church contexts between 1906 and 1969, the period in which each of these four clergymen held livings as vicars or deans of the Church of England. This thesis examines the responses of congregations, colleagues, Church and secular authorities to the interpretation of faith and politics of this group. Often, these individuals were subject to attacks from those opposed to their reconciliation between Christianity and Marxism. Church authorities were pressed to discipline them, but this persecution often strengthened their beliefs, and it appears that little could be done to silence them. This thesis 1 Marcin Kula, ‘Communism as Religion’, Totalitarian Movements and Political Religion 6 (3) (December 2005): 371-381; Alexander Wicksteed, Life Under the Soviets (London, 1928); Raphael Samuel, The Lost World of British Communism (London, 2006); Thomas Linehan, Communism in Britain 1920-39: From the Cradle to the Grave (Manchester, 2007); Bertrand Russell, The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism (London, 1920). 2 Gidon Cohen, ‘Political Religion and British Communism’; Twentieth Century Communism: A Journal of International History 2, ‘Communism and Political Violence’ (May 2010): 197-214. 6 examines this issue to determine why these clergy had so few sanctions placed on them. This thesis demonstrates that these clergymen represented a movement within the Church of England that, while a minority in terms of numbers, identified commonalities between Christianity and Marxism that had important implications for the practical application of both. They found a common point of reference in the rise of international socialism, the Russian Revolutions and the formation of the Soviet Union, but must be seen as more than mere fellow travellers, supporters of the Soviet Union who did not join the Communist Party.3 They also drew upon nineteenth century traditions of Christian Socialism and the radical religious movements of the seventeenth century, but they were distinct from these earlier generations. This group was therefore a distinct movement within the twentieth century Church of England that provided a catalyst around which debate on the interaction between Marxism and Christianity could coalesce, even if much of this debate was vitriolic. In addition to contributing to the historiography of communism in Britain, this thesis also contributes to the wider history of the Church of England in Britain, examining the Church as an organisation with authority over practical and theological matters, and which functioned as part of the political establishment. The first section of this introduction discusses historiographical debates on the interaction between religion and politics, specifically the relationship between Christianity and Marxism in a British context. Historians have identified Johnson, Ecclestone and Noel as clerical socialists, but have failed to consider whether these 3 David Caute, The Fellow-Travellers: Intellectual Friends of Communism (revised edition) (London, 1988). 7 individuals regarded themselves as part of a collective, representative of a movement within the Church of England. Additionally, historians of British communism have often overlooked the context of the Church of England on these clergy. This thesis