High Calvinists in Action: Calvinism and the City, Manchester and London, 1810-1860

This study of local churches in the urban environment, based on archival research of churches in Manchester and London in the years 1810-60, considers the work and thought of ministers who held to a high Calvinistic form of theology.
This contribution to the debate about the relation of religion to the modern city fills a gap in the historiography of early 19th-century religious life. Although there is some evidence that strict doctrine led to a more restricted response to urban problems, extensive local and personal variations mean that simple generalizations should be avoided. Ian J.Shaw argues against earlier prejudiced views and shows that high Calvinists played a vigorous and successful part in the response of early 19th-century churches to the process of urbanization. The study includes six substantial case studies of ministers and their churches in Manchester and London. Four high Calvinist ministers are considered, with two studies of ministers holding to an evangelical Calvinist doctrine also included to provide instructive contrasts. Detailed social analysis of the congregations is based upon extensive use of manuscript and printed sources, sermons and local and denominational press.