Editing Chartism (section)

==Christianity==
During this period, a widely held religious doctrine of early Christianity in England had taken hold "to the effect that it was 'wrong for a Christian to meddle in political matters.' All of the denominations were particularly careful to disavow any political affiliation and he who was the least concerned with the 'affairs of this world' was considered the most saintly and worthy of emulation."<ref name=Faulkner1916>Harold Underwood Faulkner, ''Chartism and the churches: a study in democracy'' (1916)</ref>{{rp|24}} This was at odds with many Christian Chartists, for "Christianity was to them above all practical, something that must be carried into every walk of life. Furthermore, there was no possibility of divorcing it from political science."<ref name=Faulkner1916/>{{rp|26}}

William Hill, a [[The New Church|Swedenborgian]] minister, wrote in the ''Northern Star'': "We are commanded ... to love our neighbors as ourselves ... this command is universal in its application, whether as a friend, Christian or citizen. A man may be devout as a Christian, ... but if as a citizen he claims rights for himself he refuses to confer upon others, he fails to fulfil the precept of Christ ..."<ref name=Faulkner1916/>{{rp|26}} The conflicts between these two views led many like [[Joseph Barker (minister)|Joseph Barker]] to see Britain's churches as pointless. "I have no faith in church organisations," he explained. "I believe it my duty to be a man; to live and move in the world at large; to battle with evil wherever I see it, and to aim at the annihilation of all corrupt institutions and the establishment of all good, and generous, and useful institutions in their places."<ref>David Hempton, ''Methodism and politics in British society, 1750–1850'' (1984) p 213</ref>

To further this idea, some Christian Chartist churches were formed where Christianity and radical politics were combined and considered inseparable. More than 20 Chartist churches existed in Scotland by 1841.<ref>{{cite book|last=Devine|first=T.M.|title=The Scottish Nation 1700–2000|year=2000|publisher=Penguin|isbn=9780140230048|page=279}}</ref> Pamphlets made the point and vast audiences came to hear lectures on the same themes by the likes of J. R. Stephens, who was highly influential in the movement. Political preachers thus came into prominence.<ref name=Faulkner1916/>{{rp|27–28}}

Between late 1844 and November 1845, subscriptions were raised for the publication of a [[hymnal]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://richardjohnbr.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/hymns-and-chartists-revisited.html|title=Hymns and the Chartists revisited|website=richardjohnbr.blogspot.co.uk|date=20 February 2013|access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref> which was printed as a 64-page pamphlet and distributed for a nominal fee, although no known copy is thought to remain. In 2011, a previously unknown and uncatalogued smaller pamphlet of 16 hymns was discovered in [[Todmorden]] Library in the North of England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/wtw/search/controlservlet?PageId=Detail&DocId=102253&PageNo=1|title=National Chartist Hymn Book: From Weaver to Web|first=Northgate|last=Calderdale Libraries|date=15 July 2009|access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref> This is believed to be the only Chartist Hymnal in existence. Heavily influenced by dissenting Christians, the hymns are about social justice, "striking down evildoers", and blessing Chartist enterprises, rather than the conventional themes of crucifixion, heaven, and family.

Some of the hymns protest the exploitation of [[child labour]] and [[slavery]]. One proclaims, "Men of wealth and men of power/ Like locusts all thy gifts devour". Two celebrate the martyrs of the movement. "Great God! Is this the Patriot's Doom?" was composed for the funeral of Samuel Holberry, the Sheffield Chartist leader, who died in prison in 1843, while another honours John Frost, Zephaniah Williams, and William Jones, the Chartist leaders transported to [[Tasmania]] in the aftermath of the [[Newport Rising|Newport rising of 1839]].

The Chartists were especially critical of the [[Church of England]] for unequal distribution of the state funds it received, resulting in some bishops and higher dignitaries having grossly larger incomes than other clergymen. This state of affairs led some Chartists to question the very idea of a state-sponsored church, leading them to call for absolute [[separation of church and state]].<ref name=Faulkner1916/>{{rp|59}}

Facing severe persecution in 1839, Chartists took to attending services at churches they held in contempt to display their numerical strength and express their dissatisfaction. Often they forewarned the preacher and demanded that he preach from texts they believed supported their cause, such as 2 Thessalonians 3:10, 2 Timothy 2:6, Matthew 19:23<ref>Edward Stanley, 1839, "A Sermon Preached in Norwich Cathedral, on Sunday, August 18th, 1839, by the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Norwich, before an assemblage of a body of mechanics termed Chartists"</ref> and James 5:1–6.<ref>Manchester and Salford Advertiser, 17/8/1839</ref> In response, the set-upon ministers often preached the need to focus on things spiritual and not material, and of meekness and obedience to authority, citing such passages as Romans 13:1–7 and 1 Peter 2:13–17.<ref name=Faulkner1916/>{{rp|38}}