Ecumenism, economic necessity and the disappearance of Methodist elementary schools in England in the twentieth century

Smith, John T.; Smith, John T.

Abstract

This study aims to define the extent of, and causes for, the decline of the Wesleyan educational effort in England in the twentieth century. In 1902 the Church had 738 schools, but these rapidly declined throughout the century, with only 28 remaining in 1996. The establishment of these schools during the nineteenth century had been largely for the protection of Wesleyan children, with a denominational mistrust of the proselytism in both Anglicanism and Roman Catholic institutions. This study aims to show how far this mistrust continued into the twentieth century and estimates the influence of growing ecumenism on the Church's decision to allow its own elementary schools to disappear. Nevertheless, this is an important subject, reflecting the declining influence of all churches on wider society in the twentieth century, as well as the increasing need to form church alliances to counter growing secularism in a post-Christian era.

Citation

Smith, J. T. (2010). Ecumenism, economic necessity and the disappearance of Methodist elementary schools in England in the twentieth century. History of education, 39(5), 631-657. https://doi.org/10.1080/00467601003749406

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2010-09
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: History Of Education
• Print ISSN: 0046-760X
• Electronic ISSN: 1464-5130
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 631-657
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00467601003749406
• Keywords: Methodist ecumenism elementary schools twentieth century Anglican,
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/461964