THE CALL TO SERIOUSNESS
The evangelical impact on the Victorians
By Ian Bradley. Lion Hudson. 224 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978-0-7459-5252-9
After a brief introduction in which he states his aim to ‘examine the nature and the extent of the impact which the evangelicals made on English life in the first half of the 19th century’ (p.12), Ian Bradley examines the rise of evangelicalism in England and its effect on subsequent generations.
The chapter headings are helpful in highlighting the areas under consideration. Evangelicals saw their supreme aim as being the conversion of the nation. Their efforts to reach the upper and middle classes were successful and, though not as successful among the lower classes, were nevertheless just as ardent. Their zeal extended to other countries where they not only sought to spread their beliefs but also to alleviate suffering. In particular, the author credits evangelicals with ending the British slave trade in 1807. Other chapters deal with the attempts of the evangelicals to infiltrate every aspect of life: family life, work life, philanthropic work, observance of the Sabbath, politics, etc. The case is well argued that evangelicals had an enormous and lasting effect on the nation.
The book is valuable in re-minding readers (especially those whose knowledge of history is, like mine, rather patchy) of the wonderful ways in which God blessed our nation in the past and how he used the efforts of individuals in his purposes. Readers must, however, bear in mind that the author is approaching the subject purely from a historical point of view. For example, when referring to the reasons for the great number of conversions, no reference is made to God. There are also references to evangelicals doing harm to the credibility of Christianity by their belief in the literal authority of the Bible. For these reasons, I would be cautious about recommending this book to young believers.
