Open Research Online The Open University’s repository of research publications and other research outputs The role of Evangelicalism in the formation of nineteenth-century Ulter Protestant cultural identity Thesis How to cite: Sutherland, Philomena (2010). The role of Evangelicalism in the formation of nineteenth-century Ulter Protestant cultural identity. PhD thesis The Open University. For guidance on citations see FAQs. c 2010 The Author Version: Version of Record Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online’s data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page. oro.open.ac.uk The Role of Evangelicalism in the Formation of Nineteenth-Century Ulster Protestant Cultural Identity. (1859-1885) By Philomena Sutherland, B.A. (Hons.) A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Open University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Religious Studies 2010 - Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the help, support and guidance of Professor John Wolffe, my supervisor, and the general supportive role of the Open University Religious Studies Department. I am also indebted to Dr. Janice Holmes, co­ supervisor and member of the History Department, who was of great help especially during the time spent in Northern Ireland. I am also grateful for the advice of Mr. Gerald Parsons and Professor Sean Connolly at the final stage of the thesis. I am grateful to the archivists and librarians at the British Library, Colindale Newspaper Library, PRONI and especially the Document Delivery section of the Open University Library. I would particularly like to acknowledge the help given by Mr. Stephen Gregory, librarian at Union Theological College, Dr. Jonathon Mattison, librarian at Schomberg House and Mr. William Coulter, librarian at the Apprentice Boys' Hall, Londonderry. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the support and forbearance of my family, especially that of my husband, lain. I would not have survived the past few years without their encouragement. Abstract The Role of Evangelicalism in the Formation of Nineteenth­ Century Ulster Protestant Cultural Identity. This thesis considers the drive to commemorate within Ulster Protestantism. It focuses on Londonderry between 1859 and 1886 with particular attention paid to the role of evangelicalism, prominent during the relevant period. The assessment is made against the historic backdrop of the Ulster Revival (1859), disestablishment of the Church of Ireland (1869) and the threat of home rule (1880s). In order to gauge more accurately the contribution of religion, a multidisciplinary approach was adopted. Insights from anthropology, political science and sociology were used to complement the primary historical approach to the subject. The subject is approached from two angles, focussing initially on a historical and biographical study of William Johnston (1829-1902), a representative figure who illustrates wider trends and linkages in Ulster's political world and secondly on the city of Londonderry and its anniversary commemorations, and on the important intersection between the two. The discourse from the sermons preached at the 12 August and 18 December commemorations, organised by the Apprentice Boys of Londonderry Association, were analysed using Ninian Smart's Dimensions of the Sacred as an analytical tool and were compared to the discourse in the secular events. This helped to ii clarify the nature of the outlook held by the protagonists and establish the extent to which it had a religious framework. The catalytic role of evangelicalism seemed evident as the synthesis between Loyalism, Orangeism and evangelicalism was explored against political chronology and in relation to covenantalism. A change in direction and a new political agenda with strong religious conviction became an aspect of Loyalism. This change was reflected in ritual that underwent significant development in the period. This was considered in relation to two important relevant scholarly concepts that related to identity, the 'invention of tradition' and 'civil religion'. The period between 1859 and 1885 proved pivotal in the development of Ulster Protestant cultural identity. iii Abbreviations, Terms and Usage LS Londonderry Sentinel BNL Belfast News-Letter DP Downshire Protestant DR Downpatrick Recorder Inquiry, Belfast Report of Commissioners of Inquiry into the origin and character of the riots in Belfast, in July and September, House of Commons 1857. Inquiry, Londonderry Report of Inquiry, 1869, into riots and disturbances in Londonderry, House of Commons (1870) Hansard hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons - Hansard, House of Commons Debates, Nineteenth Century. iv Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................. 1 Chapter One Johnston and His Milieu .................................................. 23 Chapter Two Londonderry: Evangelicalism, Politics and Commemoration ••••••••••• 105 Chapter Three The Worldview of the Commemorative Sermons ...................... 167 Chapter Four Cultural Identity: The Fusion of Evangelicalism and Orangeism ••••••• 228 Chapter Five Ritual: The Invention of Tradition and Civil Religion •••••••••••••••••••••• 282 Conclusion .............................................................. 352 Bibliography ............................................................. 360 v INTRODUCTION For more than two centuries, the rituals of commemoration in Ulster have caused conflict in communities divided by religious and political affiliation. These rituals relate to identity within the communities and this thesis focuses on the role of religion in establishing that identity and in its manifestation in the streets of Londonderry 1. Exploring the relationship between evangelicalism and the drive to commemorate is a central aspect of the study as is the relationship between the Orangeism of constitutional Loyalism and the religio-political agenda of the Orange Order which impacted on the expression of the rites from the mid 1860s. (Religio- political means the political agenda which emanates from religious conviction.) The study focuses on Londonderry between 1859 and 1885 and the role of evangelical religion, prominent during the relevant period. Emphasis is placed on a more militant strain of evangelicalism that developed in Britain and Ireland in the late 1820s. It emerged with a more fundamentalist attitude to Scripture, regarding the world as 'under God's judgment and heading for imminent catastrophe,.2 While the early nineteenth century tended to be moderately anti-Catholic, believing that Roman Catholics3 would eventually realise their error, a more dogmatic, premillennialist, Protestantism came to the fore in the prelude to Emancipation.4 Adherents were particularly prone to Protestant organisation in strongly anti- Catholic societies and loyalist organisations. This thesis concentrates on the worldview of key players. 1 Londonderry/Derry - these names are used interchangeably as in nineteenth-century discourse. 2 J. Wolffe, The Protestant Crusade in Great Britain, 1829-1860 (Clarendon, 1991), p.30. Protestantism is the term used for religion derived from the Protestant Reformation. 3 The term Roman Catholic is used as well as Catholic. It was used in nineteenth-century commemorative discourse without exception and not in a derogatory way. 4 J. Wolffe, The Protestant Crusade in Great Britain, 1829-1860 (Clarendon, 1991), p.30 .. 1 The role of evangelicalism in Protestant identity is approached from two angles, focussing initially on a historical and biographical study of William Johnston (1829- 1902), a representative figure who illustrated wider trends and linkages in Ulster's political world. Secondly it targets the city of Londonderry and its anniversary commemorations, and the important intersection between the two. The assessment is made against the historic backdrop of the Ulster revival (1859), disestablishment of the Church of Ireland (1869) and the threat of home rule (1880s). From the outset it was clear that it would be challenging to evaluate the diverse influences of religion in the development of commemoration. Only the central aspect of the church service could be regarded as official religion. The whole process of street parades, secular meetings and social events could be easily regarded as a mixture of the civic and political. A methodology, therefore, had to be put in place to capture the importance of the religious connotations visible in the overall ceremonial to ensure the role of religion would not be undervalued. In order more accurately to gauge its contribution, a multidisciplinary approach was adopted. Insights from anthropology, political science and sociology were used to complement the primary historical approach to the subject. Smart's 'Dimensions of the Sacred' were used as an analytic tool to assist in worldview analysis. These 'dimensions' are a means of studying religions and ideologies. The thesis examines how values and beliefs are expressed in actions, laws, symbols and organisations.s Instead of concentrating on one characteristic of a particular group, which can give an unbalanced view of that group's outlook 5 N. Smart, Dimensions of the Sacred: An Anatomy of the World's Beliefs (London: Harper Collins, 1996), p.3; N. Smart. Worldviews: Crosscultural Explorations of Human Beliefs, 3rd edn (New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 2000), pp.1-9. 2