The liturgical vision of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to argue that Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-1852) was a liturgist who had a liturgical vision. He is commonly regarded as an architect and designer per se, but many believe he had eccentric ideas, was a fanatic for the Gothic style of architecture and that while he was religious, he had little impact on the religious controversy and events of his time. The thesis will bring forward a different picture of him. The reasons put forward to support the claim that he was a liturgist are that he had a particularly definition of liturgy; he studied liturgy for three years; he employed a particular method of writing, which was commonly used by past liturgists; many of his authorities were liturgists and historians, as well as architects and designers, and his sources related to liturgy. Pugin went from attacking Protestants, to defending his views against Roman Catholics. To argue for his views, Pugin employed a particular methodology, which included a vast number of authorities and sources. He offered to England an alternative setting of the Roman rite. The new converts who had seceded from the Church of England to the Church of Rome, including John Henry Newman and his circle, did not support him and this led to a major conflict. Their different views of liturgy became a matter of judgement for the Roman Catholic Church. Pugin was influenced by Continental, particularly French, Roman Catholic scholars and liturgists. The influence of the leader of the liberal Catholics in France, Charles-Forbes-Rene, Count de Montalembert, is also brought to light. The thesis will argue that Pugin sought to implement his views on liturgy in England and had a vision of a future England that could act as an example to the rest of Catholic Christendom, including the Church of Rome. He initially had a measure of success, but finally failed and bowed to the judgement of the Roman Catholic Church.