ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the religious character of dynamic political culture. For the Chartist movement was always as much religious as political; the Charter may have been a title deed for power, but it was also a ‘Bible of Political Justice.’ The chapter explores how Christians to have patience when faced with suffering and oppression and to pray earnestly. It traces the development of Christian radicalism during the Chartist period. The agitation for the Charter was on a far greater scale than previous Christian radical campaigns. Chartists believed in the vigorous defence of the equality of man against encroachments of illegitimate power - a duty which was perceived in religious terms. The free intermingling of religion and politics therefore marked Chartist rhetoric and culture. Radicals employed Christian rhetoric in a number of ways. The Chartists sought licensed premises through two avenues - obtaining the use of buildings already licensed and the procurement of new licences.
