Church Association

The Church Association was an English evangelical Anglican organisation founded in 1865. It was particularly active in opposition to Anglo-Catholicism, ritualism, and the Oxford Movement. Founded in 1865 by Richard P. Blakeney, the association stated in its first annual report that the objectives of the association were, "To uphold the principles and order of the United Church of England and Ireland, and to counteract the efforts now being made to assimilate her services to those of the Church of Rome."[1][2]

Church Association "Protestant Van" from a postcard dated March 1907

Litigation

As well as publishing information (including its Church Association Tracts[3]) and holding public meetings,[4] controversially, this also involved instigating legal action against Anglo-Catholics under the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874; for instance, legal action was taken against Sidney Faithorn Green and Richard William Enraght. According to the association this was intended to clarify the law,[5][6] however the ritualists refusal to comply with the courts verdicts coupled with the bishops unwillingness to act eventually led to such legal action not being pursued.[7]

Active members

Reverend Thomas Henry Sparshott was organising secretary of the Church Association between 1881 and c. 1899, and deputation secretary from 1893.[8][9] He preached and lectured at various venues in England.[10]

Merger and Church Society

In 1950, the association merged with the National Church League to form the Church Society.

References
  1. "Church Association Report"
  2. Richard Hobson of Liverpool's account of the founding of the Church Association
  3. "Church Association Tracts"
  4. J. C. Ryle Church Association address
  5. J. C. Whisenant, A Fragile Unity - Anti-Ritualism and the Division of Anglican Evangelicalism in the Nineteenth Century (Paternoster Press, 2003) p8
  6. Church Association Tract 259, p3
  7. J. C. Whisenant, A Fragile Unity - Anti-Ritualism and the Division of Anglican Evangelicalism in the Nineteenth Century (Paternoster Press, 2003) p8
  8. "Rev. T.H. Sparshott". Halifax Evening Courier. 15 January 1927. p. 6 col.4. Retrieved 8 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. Crockford's Clerical Directories: Sparshott, Thomas Henry. London: Horace Cox. 1898. p. 1269/1407. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  10. "Clergyman's death". Hastings and St Leonards Observer. 15 January 1927. p. 13 col.4. Retrieved 8 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.


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