The Church in Wales: The Sociology of a Traditional Institution

(Hardback)

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Description

This study of the Anglican Church in Wales should be of interest to those concerned with the nature of Christianity in contemporary society. It provides a description and analysis of the territorial organization of a church and demonstrates the way in which the resulting distribution of resources serves to reinforce the traditional emphasis on maintenance rather than mission. The study also offers a review of the beliefs and activities of members of the Church, both clerical and lay, and of the limitations and restrictions which entrenched attitudes impose on the utilization of their commitments and talents. It also considers the problems which a post-modern and secular culture poses for religious belief and witness, and assesses the difficulty of effecting change within a traditional organization.

Author Bio

Christopher Harris is a Senior Lecturer in sociology at the University of Wales Swansea. Richard Startup is a Senior Lecturer in sociology at the University of Wales, Swansea.