The Church of England and her schools 1800-1977: a consideration of the role of the Church of England in the development of the state school system in England 1800-1977

Abstract

This thesis covers the period 1800 to the present day and attempts to chart the role and influence of the Church of England on the development of a national system of schools in England. (Her role in the modern 'independent' sector is largely ignored, not because it is unimportant, but because it is in her dealings with the far larger number of Church schools within the State sector that matters of principle and practicality are more clearly revealed.) The chapters record in chronological order the history of the Church's role in schools except for chapter four, which examines some of the wide variety of ideas current amongst Victorian Churchmen on the matter of the nation's schooling. A peculiar characteristic of this subject is the manner in which it touches on many diverse points of principle, e. g. Church and State, the rights and freedom of the individual, the nature of education and of the Church and the powers of central and local government. The historical survey covers in detail the closely interconnected elements of national politics, practical problems, social developments, differing educational philosophies and movements within the Church. The history of the Church's 'rationale' concerning her schools (this phrase is preferred to the more neological 'theology of education') is considered at length in the final chapter. Behind any serious 'rationale' of denominational schools must lie a series of theological and educational presuppositions. That these presuppositions have varied widely between churchmen in this period is amply demonstrated by the long and difficult history of denominational schools recorded in earlier chapters. The thesis ends with a consideration of the present rationale for Church's schools and examines her position in the light of recent developments.