Free Churches and Society: The Nonconformist Contribution to Social Welfare 1800-2010

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Many of the key improvements to social conditions in the United Kingdom have been made by Christians. Most of us would be able to think of such key Anglican figures as William Wilberforce, Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury or Dr Thomas Barnardo, but lesser known contributions were made behind the scenes bysignificant members of theNon-Conformist Churches. This book traces the Free Church contribution to society from 1800 to the present day. It looks at the work of campaigners, co-operative societies, philanthropists and politicians, and traces the ways in which conditions in slums, education, and industry were improved, including work with women and withblack and ethnic minorities.

There is a growing interest in the part the churches can play today in community development and in the building of social capital. This book will show that some of the things now seen as government initiatives had their origins in the work of Free Church pioneers.

Reviews

The hope of the contributors to this important volume is that the telling of the story of a tradition of social involvement will both inform and inspire contemporary practice, a task well focused in the deductions and applications of the final chapter, with its concern not only for applied theology but applied history. -- John Briggs * Baptist Quarterly *
A succinct account of recent dissent and nonconformity...This book is easily read, both in its individual chapters and as a whole...If its information is in part already known, those generalisations of, for example, a social gospel or Nonconformist Conscience, ate here reinforced and exemplified through relevant, clear details reflecting the individual strengths and personal researches of the contributors...This important and optimistic book should serve quite excellently its own stated purpose. * Journal of the United Reformed Church History Society *
This book has its origins in the educational practice of one of the editors - Lesley Husselbee - who was responsible for church-related community worker training at Northern College in Manchester. When students on the programme tried to situate their work and engagement in the tradition of the engagement of nonconformist churches with social welfare, it transpired that there was no convenient text in print. Rather than letting the matter rest, their experience led to a project to bring together people who could remedy this and produce this volume... The book fills a gap in the literature. -- Tony Addy * Modern Believing *

Author Bio

Revd Dr Lesley Husselbee has just retired after nine years as Director of Church Related Community Work, Northern College, Luther King House, Manchester.Prior to this, she taught in primary and secondary schools and as Senior Lecturer in Geography at The Roehampton Institute of Higher Education;and was Secretary for Training of the United Reformed Church (1992-2001).
Paul Ballard, a Baptist minister, is Professor Emeritus at Cardiff University, where he taught practical theology. Recent publications include, with Malcolm Brown, The Church and Economic Life (Peterborough, Epworth, 2006), with Lesley Husselbee, Community and Ministry (London, SPCK, 2007); and, as editor, The Bible in Pastoral Practice, with Stephen R. Holmes, (London, Darton, Longman and Todd, 2005) and The Church at the Centre of the City (Peterborough, Epworth, 2008).