Heart religion : Evangelical piety in England and Ireland, 1690-1850 / edited by John Coffey.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Coffey, John, 1969- editor.

UPSO (University Press Scholarship Online)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Evangelical Revival--England--History--18th century.

Evangelical Revival.

Evangelical Revival--Ireland--History--18th century.

Methodism--History--18th century.

Methodism.

History.

Ireland.

England.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (232 pages.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2016.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

The Evangelical Revival of the mid-eighteenth century was a major turning point in Protestant history. In England, Wesleyan Methodists became a separate denomination around 1795, and Welsh Calvinistic Methodists became independent of the Church of England in 1811. By this point, evangelicalism had emerged as a major religious force across the British Isles, making inroads among Anglicans as well as Irish and Scottish Presbyterians. Evangelical Dissent proliferated through thousands of Methodist, Baptist, and Congregational churches; even Quakers were strongly influenced by evangelical religion. The evangelicals were often at odds with each other over matters of doctrine (like the 'five points' of Calvinism); ecclesiology (including the status of the established church); politics (as they reacted in various ways to the American and French Revolutions); and worship (with the boisterous, extemporary style of Primitive Methodists contrasting sharply with the sober piety of many Anglican advocates of 'vital religion'). What they shared was a cross-centred, Bible-based piety that stressed conversion and stimulated evangelism. But how was this generic evangelical ethos adopted and reconfigured by different denominations and in very different social contexts? Can we categorize different styles of 'heart religion'? To what extent was evangelical piety dependent on the phenomenon of 'revival'? What practical difference did it make to the experience of dying, to the parish community, or to denominational politics? This collection addresses these questions in innovative ways. It examines neglected manuscript and print sources, including handbooks of piety, translations and abridgements, conversion narratives, journals, letters, hymns, sermons, and obituaries. It offers a variety of approaches, reflecting a range of disciplinary expertise-historical, literary, and theological. Together, the-contributions point towards a new account of the roots and branches of evangelical piety, and offer fresh ways of analysing the history of Protestant spirituality. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Between Puritanism and Evangelicalism: 'Heart-work' in Dissenting Communion Hymns, 1693-1709 / John Coffey Coffey, John 29

2 Continental Spirituality and British Protestant Readers / Patricia A. Ward Ward, Patricia A. 50

3 The 'Evangelical' Heart of Pietist Anthony William Boehm / Daniel L. Brunner Brunner, Daniel L. 72

4 George Whiterield and Heart Religion / David Ceri Jones Jones, David Ceri 93

5 Gazing at the Wounds: The Blood of the Lamb in the Hymns of John Cennick / Tom Schwanda Schwanda, Tom 113

6 Inward Religion and its Dangers in the Evangelical Revival / Isabel Rivers Rivers, Isabel 138

7 Dreaming and Emotion in Early Evangelical Religion / Phyllis Mack Mack, Phyllis 157

8 Personal Conversion, Revival, and the Holy Spirit: Presbyterian Evangelicalism in Early Nineteenth-Century Ulster / Andrew R. Holmes Holmes, Andrew R. 181

9 The Deathbed Piety of Victorian Evangelical Nonconformists / David W. Bebbington Bebbington, David W. 201.

Notes:

"This collection of essays on a critical phase in the history of Protestant spirituality arose from the seventh annual one-day conference of the Dr Williams's Centre for Dissenting Studies, held in 2011"--Preface

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Electronic reproduction. Oxford Available via World Wide Web.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780191791963

0191791962

Publisher Number:

99968729990

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.