1848–1854

The Christian Socialists: Maurice, Kingsley and Ludlow (1848–1854)

Shelley: in the Church of England one movement was a striking exception – a group of Christian Socialists: the theologian Frederick Maurice (1805–1872), the novelist Charles Kingsley (1819–1875) and the lawyer John Ludlow (1821–1911). During its brief activity from 1848 to 1854 the movement attacked the idea of laissez-faire with all its might, seeing in socialism a development of Christianity and in competition a false principle; their chief contribution lay in ideas that crossed the Atlantic to the United States

Key points

• Shelley: Christian Socialists attacked laissez-faire; Maurice told Kingsley competition as a principle of development is “a lie” to denounce in word and deed. Maurice’s true law of nature: man is made for society and realizes his nature by helping others as children of God and brothers in Christ. The leaders deliberately took up the “socialist” label – they wanted to provoke; socialism seemed to them “the science of cooperation”, a development of Christianity, and faith a support for a society working together. The Christian Socialists’ achievements were limited – their “workshops of cooperation” were poorly organized and unrealistically optimistic; their greatest contribution was ideas reaching the United States: Social Gospel leaders read Maurice and Kingsley

People

• Frederick Maurice
• Charles Kingsley
• John Ludlow

Place

England