ABSTRACT
This chapter is an introduction to some of the ways British Christianity has responded to class divisions from the eighteenth century until today. It does not intend to be a comprehensive survey of all initiatives to reach the working classes that existed during this period but, instead, highlights how the church responded to large sociological and cultural changes in British society. It takes a broadly chronological approach, beginning with the 1730 Evangelical Revival and tracking to the ministry of Thomas Chalmers in Scotland. The model of the University Settlements is then explored, before examining how World War I impacted the British class divide. That experience inspired the beginning of the Iona Community, which aimed to re-introduce the church to the working class. Post-World War II saw the British Labour government respond to the needs of the working classes and somewhat displace the work of church social movements. As a result, the rise of communism was deemed a threat to the longevity of the church. Finally, and most recently, church decline has posed theological questions for these social movements that questioned the relevance of their service to their call to preach the gospel and expand the church.
