The Christian Church in Georgian Britain (1714-1830) |
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The preaching of evangelical Christians like George Whitfield, John Wesley and others led to changes in the Christian church and British society. This was known as the "Great Awakening". Many people became sincere Christians, discovering a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, living moral, caring lives. Evangelical Christians like Lord Shaftsbury and John Newton campaigned to stop slavery, Elizabeth Fry (a Quaker) helped prisoners and other Christians worked to bring education, better working conditions and housing for the poor. In 1690 the Church of Scotland became Presbyterian and very different from the Church of England. |
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John Wesley's 'New Room' Chapel, Bristol - 1739 Photograph by kind permission of New Room Chapel |
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Presbyterianism is the name given to those church groups that are organised and governed though 'courts of the church'. This involves Elders and Ministers (as opposed to government, like the Church of England, involving Bishops - 'episcopacy'). Although many Church of Scotland buildings go back to earlier, Catholic, days it's newer buildings - like it's worship - were more like the chapels belonging to the Congregational, Baptist and Methodist 'dissenters'. |