CHARTIbM AND THE CHURCHES With special reference to Lancashire An account of The Churches and Social Reform in the Chartist Period by II. J. IfcLellan, M.A. , B.D. (Edin.). B.Sc.(Econ.) (Lond.) A Thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh. 1947. PREFACE In the early months of 1944 I began a correspondence with Principal Hugh V/att, Deun of the faculty of Divinity of Edinburgh University, which lasted until this thesis was completed. It is largely as a result of his patience and of his direction that the work has achieved its present form. A socialogical treatise of this type is difficult to maintain within set limits and the writer has been indebted to "Principal Watt for the frankness of his criticisms and for his perseverance in keeping the actual subject to the forefront. The tutorial guidance has been undertaken by Kr. Arthur Birnie M.A., Reader in Economic History at Edinburgh University. His exact historical knowledge and painstaking ineifating on detail have given the work an accuracy it would not otherwise poetess. His kindliness has extended beyond the bounds of duty and a^,ain ana again his encourage­ ment has been an invaluable incentive in pursuing the study of particular problems. Finally, I have to thank ray friend, Mr. G.S. Clements, for his vigilance in reading the work in all its stages, and the director of the Dr. V/iHiamsV Library for making 11. available to me the records of the Lancashire Baptist Churchee afid the Swarthm«re Lectures dealing with the social contribution of. the Society of Friende. Ill. CONTKNTb AMI) SYNOPSIS Introduction | % - Chapter I. Chart!sin and Contemporary' Movements. Q -<3-3. Chartism a revolutionary movement - a protect againet the economic doctrines of the Industrial Revolution - Political Equality its aim. The f.oil of Chartism* Chartism the first modern working-class movement - An effect of the distress following Napoleonic Wars - Its evolution from London V/orking Ken's Association - The "Six Pointt" of the "People's Charter" - khift of interest from London to Lancashire. Contemporary Movements - Revolt against Hew Poor Law - Anti-Corn Lavs League - Factory Reform agitation. Chapter II. Phabee of Chartism. -44- - 7 ^ Variation in Chartist activity resulting from industrial and political changes. The three main periods: ffirst Period, I85C-I839, from inception to "General Convention" and failure of "Great Petition" - 1/te.ss demonstrations - extremist control of movement, f.econd P eriod,I839-J842. Renewed distress in 1841 revived interest in Chartism - Opposition to Poor Law - Rejection of second petition - The strike iv. of 1842 - Uhartisra a highly organised and powerful movement. Third Period. 1842-1848. Decline of Chartiem an effect of Eocial legislation - Failure of lart petition in 1848. Survival of Chartist spirit in later popular movements. Chapter III. Specific Problems in Lanca-shire^ "/£"- / O 4~ Evolution of cotton industry - Its social effects - Character of millowners - William Grey, a good employer His limitations* Divorce of religion from commercial moralty - Influence of CalviniBtic Puritanism. Ifcish inmigration an agent in worsening conditions - Casual labour and strike-breaking in hadd-loom weaving in­ dustry. Conditions in mines worse than in factories - prohibition of female and child labour in mines, 1842. Chartism absorbs Poor J.aw agitation. J.R. Stephens - rcriptural warrant for Chartist activities. James Leech - dissociation of Chartism from Free Trade ag*4 agitation. Strength of Nonconformity in Lancashire in­ dicated by Sunday School statistics. Chapter IV. Chartism ab_ a^Pplitical P hili sop hy \O5~- I 3O Breakdown of English social structure - The new man­ ufacturing class - Conditions led to emergence of Chartism as a party but without representation and with little Parliamentary support. Dissensions in the movement. Reasons for Nonconformist apathy or dislike. Hostility of Established Church. Comparison of Marxist and ChartiEt political piiiloeophiet - Chartism funda­ mentally Christian in principle. Bupport outside the movement - Lord fhaftesbury and Sadler. Chapter V. The People and the Churches. / 3 I - ' ^^ * Upper classes frightened into orthodoxy by French Revolution. All Churches unready Tor the challenge of Chartism. The Established church - its reforms irrel­ evant to social situation - its departure from medieval ideal? - indifference and corruption of the clergy, nonconformity - its strength in Lancashire. Methodism transition from revivalist to conventional spirit - "A bulwark against revolution" - alienation of working class - spread of free-though - identification of infidelity with revolution - political implications of blasphemy trials. The Chartist Churches - their theology over-eimpliXied and inconsistent - a fore­ shadowing of Christian Socialism. Chapter VI. _ The Established Chu_rch_J.j]_ Chartist Times. /&& Clast; batis of Anglicanism perpetuated by "pew-rent" vi. system* Chartiet hatred of Established Church. Political basis of Church preferment ,- its effect in isolating Church from masses. Anglican fears of Dis­ establishment* The three groupe in the Church of f t«^ England - The Evangelicals, a decling party - The A High Church Party, the "Church-.and-State" men - The Liber&l of Broad Church. Ifaue attendance of IShartists at parish ehurches* Anglican antipathy to Chartism. Revival in the Church - The Oxford Movement a reaction towards med­ ieval simplicity - analogy with Disraeli's "Young Eng­ land Party". Liberal and Christian Socialist movements based on fundamental Christianity. Chapter VII. Methodism and Politics. Tesley, the only great English religious reformer - His revival of the Evangelical principle - A Tory and upholder of authority - Failure of traditional Methodism ih Chart!Et timeb - Loss of missionary zeal. The contribution of Methodism to Englieh social life a matter of controversy - Assessments of Dr. Bready and Dr. Gangster - the "fellow-man" concept - Aim of Methodism social salvage rather than reform - Social detachment a cause of schism - The '^:ew Connexion" - Vii. The 7arrenite£ - The Wesleyan Reform Church - THe Bible ChriEtiane - The Primitive Method!etc and their revival of fieId-preaching to the outcast. The pro- ereae of English social reform a consequence of Ev­ angelism. £*- Chapter VIII. Joseph Rayner Stephens - Chartist and Preacher Stephent the moet notable religious personality aseoc- iated with Chartism - Scarcity of biographical material - Political and eociological views developed by Stockholm friendships. Ordination; speeches on factory feform and DiseEtabliEhment - Conflict with Conference * Resignation. LpeecheE on New Poor Law increase his influence - Arrest for sedition, 1838 - Trial in 1839 - Defence baseo/on ChriEtian teaching: convicted and imprisoned, rather to silence than to punish him. No active connection with Chartism after release in 1840. Tory, Christian humanitarian. Evangelical, his phil­ osophy wat not in accord with the new spirit of the age - Contributioh to later social reforms difficult to estimate. Chapter^ IX. Char tiet Chri&tianity. ^£4- Chartist Churches a protest againat narrowneey of <• recognised religious bodies - Stress on education - viii Influence of \Villiam Lovett - O'Heill's pioneer Church in Birmingham - A novelist on Chartist Churches. Dual character of Chartist Christianity - the "study group" and the "aocial reform" elements. Reasons for Anglican and Nonconformist hostility. The purpose of the Chartist Church the application of Christian ethics to everyday life, end to the aims of the Charter - Ite appeal to the 'Ohurchless" - Chartist Christianity a reaction against social apathy of older Churches - Lord AshiLey on Anglican indifference - Movement a revolt against l/ethodisi asce ticiEm - The "English Sunday" - Educational and cultural aspects - moral ; idealism directed towards Christian Socialism and social reform after 1848 - "The Victory of the Vanquished." Chapter X_. Congregationalism in Lancashire . /^'JS'- 3 O /. Influence of the tfive Mile Act of 1665 in developing Congregationalism as village coimnutoities - Union in 1806 - persistence of tradition of sm^lQ/ommunities - Evangelisation of large towns after 1846. Concern with religious freedom a factor in neglect of social welfare - 7ork of Edward 1/ieO.l, Congregationalism a middle-class religion - its tolerance of statue quo ix. till raid-century - Development of Liberalism - interest in education and social welfare exemplified by life of Kay fihuttleworth. Locial contribution of Congregationalism email in the Chartist period. Chapter XI. Baptists and Chartism. 3 O 7L — *3 1 Baptist Church in Lancashire established by Cromv.ell's Ironsides -"Pioneers in campaign for liberty of con­ science - Formation of county associations in nine­ teenth century - evangelisation of industrial areas. /' Bap.tists mainly working-class - Activity in campaigns for religious freedom and abolition of slavery - high sense of social responsibility. Baptists the foremost r in founding of Sunday, day and evening schools, libraries and other social amenities - Some leaders avowed Chartists Thomas Cooper and his "Shakespearean Association " - Stress on education led to spread of democratic ideas by reading - Baptist contribution to social advance greater than that ~* of any other Nonconformist body. Chapter XII. The Roman Catholic Church. 3 | *y - 3 %, / Catholic emancipation in 1829 - negligible effect on politics - Catholic population increased by Irish immigrants