Flourishing of Evangelical Protestantism

In the late 1700s and through the 1800s, a religious movement began to sweep London. Evangelical Protestantism established itself in the Chruch of England. This new movement believed that humans need the Lord because they are sinners. Protestantism emphasized the importance of a personal relationship with Christ instead of the rituals and practices of religion. The movement also stressed the importance of sharing their faith with others which is how evangelists came to be very prominent in society. In Bleak House, Mrs. Pardiggle is an example of this evangelical movement. She reads the Bible to those who may not ask for it and she tries to spread the message of her faith to those around her. Dickens is displaying the actions of that movement during the time within the novel.

Landow, George. “The Doctrines of Evangelical Protertanism.” The Doctrines of Evangelical Protestantism, www.victorianweb.org/religion/evangel2.html.

Associated Place(s)

Layers

Event date:

1790 to 1850