ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 re-appraises John Trevor by looking in some detail at his life and influences. Underlining the study is the issue of what fashioned the theology which would lead Trevor to found the Labour Church. Trevor’s personal, spiritual journey started from a narrow Calvinistic upbringing, and took him through his own ‘crisis of faith’ to Transcendentalism and the concept of ‘Free Religion’, followed by his own form of Socialist utopianism. New parallels will be drawn between Trevor’s ideology and those of a number of contemporary thinkers and activists, as well as recognition given to the influence of Philip Wicksteed as his mentor. The chapter furthers previous research by pursuing ideological and familial leads, and by the understanding of Trevor’s ability to fuse received ideas and agendas into a distinctive theology and how he acted upon the consequences of its message by building a national organisation with international potential.
