The Christian Tradition in the British Isles

This course examines the development of the Christian tradition in the British Isles, from the Celtic peoples of Britain under the Roman Empire to the Anglo-Saxons, the medieval church, the emergence of a variety of traditions in the reformation, the contribution of Christianity to social problems of the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Through studying the Christian tradition, central to British culture until the last few decades, participants also get a glimpse into the development of British culture as a whole. The course includes lectures and field trips to sites of major interest, and provides the historical context for work undertaken in the seminars.

Adjustments may be made to individual lectures and speakers, but the lecture series will generally cover the following topics:

Week I (2009):  

Monday, 22 June

Library orientations

Academic orientation and introduction to research methodology

Tuesday, 23 June

Celtic Christianity

Anglo-Saxon literature

Wednesday, 24 June

English monasticism

Julian of Norwich

Thursday, 25 June

Anselm: Faith seeking understanding

The Reformation and Culture

Friday, 26 June

Field trip to Winchester: Celts, Romans, and Christians

Week II (2009):

Monday, 29 June

The English Enlightenment and Christian thought

      Revolution and religion in seventeenth-century literature

Tuesday, 30 June

Nineteenth-century social justice: Wilberforce and Shaftsbury

Industrialization and Secularization

Wednesday, 1 July

The Oxford Movement

Oxford Fantasists:  C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

Thursday, 2 July

Science and secularization: emergent themes

Climate change, stewardship and mission

Friday, 3 July

      Field Trip: Glastonbury and Wells

Friday, 10 July

Field Trip: Coventry