The influence of Christianity
The significance of belief
As the daughter of a clergyman, Charlotte Brontë inevitably grew up in a deeply religious atmosphere. Rev. Brontë was extremely devout, as was his wife, Maria Branwell, who also brought to the household the influence of her Methodist upbringing. The latter was intensified when Elizabeth Branwell went to live at Haworth after her sister's death in 1821.
Social contact
Many of the men Charlotte and her sisters met would have been clergymen like their father, either his curates or ministers visiting from neighbouring parishes. This no doubt accounts for the fact that clergymen or those who hold strong religious views appear in almost every one of the Brontë novels.
Linguistic influence
Charlotte Brontë was strongly influenced by the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. Hearing readings and sermons week by week in church, she absorbed the language and rhythms of the Bible and of Anglican worship, to which there are many direct references in her fiction.
Physical presence
Outward signs of religion were more obvious in Charlotte Brontë's lifetime than today. Churches were built in the new industrial cities and about half the population attended regularly. In villages and older towns and cities, parishes continued to be centres of the life of the community, as they had been for centuries. Moreover, even those who were not Christians or did not hold traditional beliefs would have recognized the Christian origins of the moral and ethical standards of the day.
Church and Chapel
Dissatisfaction with the church
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During the eighteenth century, there had been great dissatisfaction with the Anglican Church and new religious movements grew up, including Methodism, whilst the Baptist Church which had started in 1612 also flourished. The Congregationalist churches had developed from the Independent churches that seceded from the Church of England at the time of the English Civil War. Collectively, these became known as Dissenting or Nonconformist churches.
When he was a young man, Rev. Patrick Brontë had friends who were Methodists and had been affected by their beliefs. In fact, Haworth was an appropriate parish for Rev. Brontë because it had a long connection with Methodism. John Wesley himself had preached there in 1748, speaking to 4000 people in the churchyard; and William Grimshaw, whose ministry was from 1742-63, made a practice of traveling round the parish, holding services in cottages, on the model of Wesley and the early Methodists.
Religious practice and class
These secessions and new sects had arisen because people wanted a simpler, more direct religion and forms of worship without priests or ritual. These new congregations, particularly the Methodists and the Baptists, were predominantly lower class and a social distinction was indicated by describing people as either ‘church' (i.e. Anglican) or ‘chapel' (i.e. Nonconformist).
Evangelicalism
Since 1783 a powerful movement known as Evangelicalism had been formed within the Church of England, in part influenced by some Nonconformist sects. Evangelicals believed that human beings are profoundly affected by sin and therefore unable to achieve a close relationship with God by their own efforts, however hard they might try. William Wilberforce (1759-1833, the great social reformer who was one of the leaders of the campaign to end slavery in Britain) and Lord Shaftesbury (1801-85, who worked to end poverty and the exploitation of children) were both Evangelicals.
Someone ordained as a priest, deacon or bishop to teach, conduct religious services, administer the sacraments and provide pastoral care within the Christian Church. Until recently, only men could be so ordained.
1. Devout, involved in religious practice
2. Member of a religious order, a monk or nun.
Having or demonstrating devotion, usually to religion, obeying its rules and principles.
A Protestant church which emerged in Britain in the eighteenth century under the leadership of John Wesley and has members worldwide.
1. One who has the care / cure of souls.
2. Name for an assistant to the parish priest.
Middle French menestre, ministre 'servant'. Someone who serves God and other people; used of those who hold office and lead worship in the Christian Church. Also verb form, to minister
A parish is an area with its own church, served by a priest who has the spiritual care of all those living within it.
The translation of the Bible in English which was produced in 1611 by a group of scholars appointed by King James I. It is the origin of many common phrases and sayings in the English language.
The book of prayers and church services first put together by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury in the time of King Edward VI (1547-53) for common (ie. general) use in English churches.
The Anglican church is the 'Established' or state church of England, the result of a break with the Catholic church under Henry VIII and further developments in the reign of Elizabeth I.
1. Doing homage and giving honour and respect, especially to God. Acts of devotion. Human response to the perceived presence of the divine.
2. The part of the Christian liturgy usually consisting of sung material and prayers of thanksgiving.
1. Term for a worshipping community of Christians.
2. The building in which Christians traditionally meet for worship.
3. The worldwide community of Christian believers.
The Anglican church is the 'Established' or state church of England, the result of a break with the Catholic church under Henry VIII and further developments in the reign of Elizabeth I.
1. Term for a worshipping community of Christians.
2. The building in which Christians traditionally meet for worship.
3. The worldwide community of Christian believers.
A Protestant church which emerged in Britain in the eighteenth century under the leadership of John Wesley and has members worldwide.
One of the largest Protestant churches. Stresses the importance of only baptising (usually by immersion) people who are old enough to make a personal profession of faith based on accepting the forgiveness offered by God through Jesus Christ.
Describing a system of Church governance, whereby the individual local church is largely self-governing, in contrast to the Church of England
To secede means to separate or withdraw formally, e.g. from a religious or political body or an alliance.
(1642-51). Series of military conflicts which rose out of religious, political and financial tensions between King Charles I and Parliament, which was increasingly influenced by Puritan sympathies.
Differing in opinion; often used with reference to religious belief or practice.
In the U.K., any Protestant group or church that does not adhere to the teachings of the State Church, the Church of England or, in Scotland, the Church of Scotland.
Area with its own church, served by a priest who has the spiritual care of all those living within it.
A Protestant church which emerged in Britain in the eighteenth century under the leadership of John Wesley and has members worldwide.
(1703-1791) A Church of England minister who founded the Methodist denomination with his brother Charles.
A group of people with beliefs which differ from those of the larger group to which they belong
A person whose role is to carry out religious functions.
A prescribed order of performing religious or other devotional acts.
1. Term used of all Protestant churches since the Reformation.
2. Movement in England and elsewhere from the eighteenth century onwards which stresses the importance of the Bible in understanding the truth about God and the need for individuals to e
1. Term used of all Protestant churches since the Reformation.
2. Movement in England and elsewhere from the eighteenth century onwards which stresses the importance of the Bible in understanding the truth about God and the need for individuals to e
Disobedience to the known will of God. According to Christian theology human beings have displayed a pre-disposition to sin since the Fall of Humankind.
The Bible describes God as the unique supreme being, creator and ruler of the universe.
A politician most famous for his role in the abolition of the slave trade in Britain.
A Victorian aristocrat who campaigned for factory reforms and better education for those children who were often made to work long hours within them.
