The Church of England and the First World War

by alan-wilkinson

The Church of England and the First World War (first published in 1978) explores in depth the role of the church during the tragic circumstances of the First World War using biographies, newspapers, magazines, letters, poetry and other sources in a balanced evaluation. The myth that the war was fought by 'lions led by donkeys' powerfully endures turning heroes into victims. Alan Wilkinson demonstrates the sheer horror, moral ambiguity, and the interaction between religion, the church and warwith a scholarly, and yet poetic, hand. The author creates a vivid image of the church and society, includes views of the Free Churches and Roman Catholics, portrays the pastoral problems and challenges to faith presented by war, and the pressures for reform of church and society. The Church of England and the First World War is written with compelling compassion and great historical understanding, making the book hard to put down. This expert and classic study will grip the religious and secular alike, the general reader or the student.

370 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Matthias]

One of the few books on a fascinating topic. Wilkinson's book is affectionately handled and thorough, but it lacks a narrative structure. One never gets a sense of who the major players are in the Church at the time. In spite of its shortcomings, it's necessary reading on the topic.