Mission to the Middle Classes : The Woodard Schools 1848-1891 (Book review)
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/article43784
- Author
- Heeney, Brian (Brian Danford), 1933-1983
- Reviewer
- Thompson, Neville, 1938-
- Journal
- Journal of the Canadian Church Historical Society
- Date
- 1969 December
- Reviewer
- Thompson, Neville, 1938-
- Date
- 1969 December
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 4
- Page
- 94-97
- Notes
- "The Rev. Nathaniel Woodard's great mission in life was to save the predominantly nonconformist and (in his view) potentially revolutionary lower middle classes for the established church and the established political order. But his High Churchmanship was not the orthodox Anglicanism of the mid-Victorian period, much less the dominant persuasion of the ruling class. Indeed Anglo-Catholicism was regarded with such suspicion by governments and the church hierarchy alike that Woodard might be seen as an unconscious subversive, leading his followers to challenge the authority of the church and state which it was his avowed intention to strengthen" (p. 94-95). "In 1848, the year of revolutions on the continent and the great Chartist demonstration in England, Woodard produced his 'Plea for the Middle Classes'. While others were wringing their hands and predicting red republicanism he proposed to save the country by educating the most dangerous classes (from the point of view of those in authority) to respect the existing social, political and religious arrangements" (p. 95). "Woodards's schools were not supported as well as he expected by the lower middle classes who were more interested in learning some practical skills and keeping religion for Sunday mornings. The low salaries and the religious qualifications he demanded too, made it hard to recruit teachers until this earnest Victorian began to train his own. Woodard's mission failed as it was bound to fail in the circumstances. The problem of secondary education for the non-wealthy was too big for one man and for voluntary support, though it took until 1902 for this to be realized. Lancing College stands today as a monument to a man who set himself the awe-inspiring task of adapting a medieval vision to a modern industrial society" (p. 96).
- Subjects
- Woodard, Nathaniel, 1811-1891 - Book reviews
- Endowed public schools (Great Britain) - History - Book reviews
- Education - Great Britain - History - 19th century - Book reviews
- Education - Religious aspects - Church of England - Book reviews