Introduction

In the mid-19th century industrial Britain became the first major country to have a population residing predominantly in urban areas. In the mid-19th century industrial Britain became the first major country to have a population residing predominantly in urban areas. The cultural ties binding time, society and the land are disintegrating in the predominantly urban society, particularly in a society that has less time for organised religion. This chapter presents an overview of key concepts this book. The book explains the modern origin of the harvest festival in the UK, dating it back to: the Rev Robert Hawker, who, in 1843, building on Saxon and Celtic Christian customs, began to decorate his church at Morwenstow, Cornwall, with homegrown produce. It focuses on the idea of long passages of time, explaining how gradual changes in DNA have helped scientists measure the age of species.