The Labour Church: Religion and Politics in Britain 1890-1914

by Jacqueline Turner

Overview

The Labour Church was an organisation fundamental to the British socialist movement during the formative years of the Independent Labour Party (ILP) and Labour Party between 1891 and 1914. It was founded by the Unitarian Minister John Trevor in Manchester in 1891 and grew rapidly thereafter. Its political credentials were on display at the inaugural conference of the ILP in 1893, and the Labour Church proved a formative influence on many pioneers of British socialism. This book provides an analysis of the Labour Church, its religious doctrine, its socio-political function and its role in the cultural development of the early socialist arm of the labour movement. It includes a detailed examination of the Victorian morality and spirituality upon which the life of the Labour Church was built. Jacqui Turbaner challenges previously held assumptions that the Labour Church was irreligious and merely a political tool. She provides a new cultural picture of a diverse and inclusive organisation, committed to individualism and an individual relationship with God. As such, this book brings together two major controversies of late-Victorian Britain: the emergence of independent working-class politics and the decline of traditional religion in a work which will be essential reading for all those interested in the history of the labour movement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784539436
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/30/2018
Series:	International Library of Political Studies
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Jacqui Turner is Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Reading. She holds a PhD from University of Reading.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements x

Preface xi

Abbreviations xii

Introduction 1

'Cottonopolis': Right Place, Right Time? 4

'Churchianity': What is a Church, and is the Labour Church One? 10

Bibliographical Sources and Terms of Reference 15

1 John Trevor: Reluctant Christian, Reluctant Preacher, Founder of the Labour Church 20

2 Organic Growth: An 'Antidote to Black Clothes, Kid Gloves, Tall Silk Hats, and Long Faces' 43

The Proposed Venture 44

Labour Church Pioneers 49

Labour, Irreligion and Working-class Congregations 52

Spontaneous Growth 54

The Labour Church Union 57

Continued Growth 59

3 Daily Life: Religion, Socialism, Radicals and Women 69

Buildings, Congregations, Lecturers and Speakers 71

Socialism and Radicals 79

Social Life 85

Labour Church Women 88

4 Doctrine and Belief: 'Laborare Est Orare', to Work is to Pray 101

Theology and Doctrine 102

Millenarianism 105

Labour Church Principles 106

Services 114

Orthodox and Non-conformist Responses 121

Responses Beyond the Churches 133

5 A Wider Voice: Socialists, Free Thinkers and Sexual Rebels 139

Making Little Socialists 143

Cinderella 144

Sunday Schools 148

'Outline Addresses for Children' 149

Little Red Caps 154

Carpenter, Whitman and the Individual Relationship with God 155

The Labour Church in London 161

6 Decline and Conclusion: 'It was Perhaps Too Brilliant to Live' 175

Failure in London 176

A Myriad of Problems 179

Politicization and Secularization 180

Diversity and Inclusivity 183

The Departure of John Trevor 186

War, Pacifism, Socialism and Conscription 190

Alternative Leisure 195

Last Words 196

Appendix I List of Labour Churches and Congregations 200

Appendix II The Constitution of the Labour Church as Approved at the Second Conference (November 1893) 204

Appendix III Transcript of a Letter from Mrs H. M. Mitchell to D. F. Summers (2 August 1953) 207

Appendix IV The 'Fabian Basis' (pre-1919) 210

Appendix V The Principles of the Labour Church 212

Appendix VI The Ethical Basis of the Socialist Sunday Schools (1906) 214

Appendix VII John Trevor's Labour Prophet Article on London (1895) 217

Appendix VIII Letter from Keir Hardie to John Trevor 220

Notes 223

Bibliography 255

Index 271