Description

‘A masterly, vivid and original sketch, not just of the history but of the culture (or cultures) of the Church of England across nearly five centuries.’ Rowan Williams, poet and former Archbishop of Canterbury

It is hard to comprehend the last 500 years of England’s history without understanding the Church of England. From its roots in Catholicism through to the present day, this is the extraordinary history of a familiar but much-misunderstood institution.

The Church has frequently been divided between high and low, Evangelical and Anglo-Catholic. For its first 150 years people sacrificed their lives to defend it; the Anglican Church is and has always been defined by its complicated relationship to the state and power.

As Jeremy Morris shows, the story of the Church – central to British life – has never been straightforward. Weaving social, political and religious context together with the significance of its music and architecture, A People’s Church skilfully illuminates a complex and pre-eminent institution.

Publisher Review

A masterly, vivid and original sketch, not just of the history but of the culture (or cultures) of the Church of England across nearly five centuries. It will win the respect and gratitude of specialists, while being compelling reading for a much wider public concerned to understand the collective imagination and memory of England -- Rowan Williams, poet and former Archbishop of Canterbury Dazzling ... To write a history of the Church of England in one volume is a substantial challenge; to have done so successfully and with admirable clarity is no mean feat -- Revd William Davage * Catholic Herald *