David Lloyd George Nonconformity and Radicalism, C.1890 – 1906
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DAVid LLOYD GEORGE NONCONFORmitY AND RAdicAliSM, C.1890 – 1906 David Lloyd George took a natural place in both radical and nonconformist traditions, on account of his family background and his upbringing in Wales. Ian Machin examines his story from 1890 to 1906. In particular, he traces how Lloyd George’s performance in relation to the Education Bill of 1902 and its aftermath was of pivotal significance in his career, building his political position in time for the Liberals’ lthough born in Man- David and his sister (a brother, return to office in chester, Lloyd George William, was born posthumously) December 1905, which Awas taken to Wales by his were then taken by their mother to Welsh parents when he was two live at Llanystumdwy, near Cric- in turn enabled him to months old, in 1863. They lived in cieth in south Caernarfonshire, at Pembrokeshire, his schoolmaster the home of her brother Richard demonstrate his striking father William’s native county, Lloyd, a lay preacher for the Dis- abilities in subsequent where William took the lease of a ciples of Christ and owner of a smallholding for health reasons, small shoemaking business. ‘Uncle years. but died from tuberculosis in 1864. Lloyd’ acted as a father to his 12 Journal of Liberal History 77 Winter 2012–13 DAVid LLOYD GEORGE NONCONFORmitY AND RAdicAliSM, C.1890 – 1906 sister’s three children and greatly Nineteenth-century noncon- became in Britain, and one of their influenced them. formity used radical methods and most prominent later members When David was born, modern support to seek the abolition of was Ronald Reagan). Uncle Rich- British radicalism – having a cen- Anglican privilege in regard to ard Lloyd’s chapel at Criccieth had tral aim of franchise extension and education, payment of church rates previously belonged to the Scotch reform, and further aims, especially and tithes to help maintain parish Baptists (founded in Edinburgh in nonconformist ones, to advance churches, the use of parish burial 1765, and owing their establish- equality – was about a hundred grounds, and an established posi- ment in North Wales to a sea jour- years old; and nonconform- tion as a state church. By 1880 these ney from Glasgow to Caernarfon ity – avowing and demonstrating aims – though not disestablishment by missionaries). Before joining religious separation from the estab- or abolition of tithes – had been the Scotch Baptists the chapel had lished Church of England, and to largely attained; and disestablish- belonged to the main British Bap- a lesser extent that of Scotland – ment in general was encouraged by tist denomination, the Particular was about three hundred. The two the passage of that reform for Ire- Baptists. Successive secessions by often formed a natural partnership, land in 1869, though further hopes the chapel from both the Particular though this was by no means an of achieving it were disappointed Baptists and the Scotch Baptists had exclusive one – many radicals were in Parliament in the early 1870s resulted from a search for pure and not Dissenters, and many Dissent- and in the general election of 1885.1 pristine Christianity. The secession ers were not radicals. Wesleyanism had initially provided from the Scotch Baptists and union Radicals never formed an organ- a variation from this radical-non- with the Disciples took place in ised political party of their own, or conformist connection by inclin- 1841, when Richard Lloyd’s father even an organised section within ing towards Toryism, but by the (David Lloyd George’s grandfa- a party, though radicals who sup- later nineteenth century Wesleyans ther) was minister. The Disciples, ported a particular reform quite were coming to have more political although maintaining the practice often formed an association to work resemblance to the Congregation- of adult baptism, were not at that for it by political means (for exam- alists and Baptists, which (together time Baptist by affiliation, though ple the Anti-Corn Law League, the with the Quakers and Unitarians the Welsh ones became so much Chartists, and the Anti-State Church and some Methodist and Presby- later when they joined the Welsh Association, which was founded in terian denominations) were the Baptist Union in the 1930s. As well 1844 and known as the Liberation strongest radical elements among as holding to adult baptism, the Society from 1853). Radicals had nonconformists. Disciples believed in the literal been loosely attached to the Whig His upbringing seemed to make truth of the Bible, had no formal party before 1830, and generally Lloyd George a radical of the radi- creeds and no ordained and salaried became part of the broadening Lib- cals and a nonconformist of the ministry, and eschewed the ‘elitist’ eral Party, as the Whigs were coming nonconformists, impressive in title of Reverend. to be known by the mid-1830s. How- the pronounced religious separa- Thus David’s early environment ever, there continued to be some tism in which he was reared. His was intensely religious. As a boy, marked differences between Whigs sect, the Disciples of Christ, or he and his family walked two miles and radicals, and between some radi- Campbellites, had been founded in each way to and from his uncle’s cals and other radicals, in the Liberal America by Alexander Campbell chapel at Criccieth, three times Party. This was still the case, to a earlier in the nineteenth century Left: on Sundays and once on Wednes- reduced extent, after the party split (they were much more numer- David Lloyd days. As a fourteen year-old at the over Irish home rule in 1886. ous in the United States than they George in 1903 National (Anglican) elementary Journal of Liberal History 77 Winter 2012–13 13 DAVid llOYD GEORGE, NONCONFORmitY AND RAdicAliSM, C.1890–1906 school at Llanystumdwy he organ- champion, and was shortly followed the National Free Church Coun- ised a refusal to recite the Apos- by his selection as Liberal candidate cil founded in 1896 (representing tle’s Creed on an important formal for Caernarfon Boroughs.5 a great many local Free Church occasion; and this revolt, although In these early years the main councils, mostly commenced in the failing at first, ultimately succeeded thrust of Lloyd George’s radical 1890s). He addressed the assemblies in gaining some local concessions activity was opposition to the privi- of the Congregational and Baptist for Dissenting pupils. It was his first leged position of landowners and Unions, and initiated the formation known radical action, the first of the Established Church, chiefly in a of the Nonconformist Parliamen- his repeated challenges to the Estab- rural context such as his home area. tary Council in 1898.7 He always lished Church, and the first of his But he also looked for the support of retained membership of his family many involvements in disputes over radicals in the large towns. Noncon- chapel at Criccieth, and joined Bap- religious education. It also brought formity was strong in many of these, tist congregations in London (after him his first taste of fame, if only as and whereas questions of tithe, 1890 he seems to have been gener- yet in Llanystumdwy.2 denominational education, and ally regarded as a Baptist). By 1884, when he was twenty- churchyard burials flourished more It appears, however, that one and newly launched as a in a rural environment, disestablish- beneath all this public religious solicitor in Criccieth, David was ment and temperance were at least as commitment and activity he might developing promising powers of strong in the towns as in the coun- not have had a consistent Christian eloquence and organisation as a try. Lloyd George could also hope to faith. During his teenage years he champion of radical causes which ally with urban reformers through had an extended period of doubt, were largely (though not exclu- an interest in the general question of leading him into strong sympa- sively) nonconformist – such as social reform. In a speech of Febru- thy with Positivism, though by disestablishment, temperance, ary 1890 he said of disestablishment, the time he was twenty he had opposition to the levy of tithes, land and drink reform: ‘however returned to Evangelicalism.8 But undenominational education, and drastic and broad they may appear he was restless, critical and indi- the right of non-Anglicans to burial to be, they after all simply touch vidualistic in personality, and prob- in parish churchyards. These causes the fringe of that vast social ques- ably continued to speculate about – though none of them required tion which must be dealt with in his religion, perhaps having fur- any kind of religious commitment the near future’.6 Thus, two months ther periods of doubt – though he from their supporters, and all of before his election to Parliament, did not give posterity many clues them had some radical Anglican he revealed his concern with allevi- about this matter. Some of his biog- support – were notably strong in ating the living and working con- raphers, for example Ffion Hague, Wales because of its nonconformist ditions of society. Later, referring have suggested that he lost his faith majority which, through suffrage to his own birth in a major indus- In these early as a youngster and did not get it extension and the introduction of trial city, he proclaimed himself ‘a years the back.9 On the other hand, one of the secret ballot in 1872, enjoyed Lancashire lad’ to audiences in his his daughters, Lady Olwen Carey rapidly increasing political strength native county. However, the gen- main thrust Evans, tended to present him as a from the general election of 1868 eral reform of living and working consistent believer in adult life.10 onwards.3 The number of noncon- conditions was probably not among of Lloyd The matter might be more com- formists returned for Welsh con- his major concerns before he entered plex and variable than is suggested stituencies rose strikingly, from government in 1905.