Robert Prichard examines both high-church and evangelical theology in the nineteenth-century Episcopal church, claiming a commonality between the two that has been neglected in the study of Anglican history. Parting company with the interpretation dominant among historians of the Episcopal church for more than sixty years, he focuses on shared theological assumptions rather than on liturgical divisions. By focusing on these shared theological assumptions, he sheds new light on the Episcopal church, helping the reader to see the evangelical and high-church parties as concerned with theological as well as liturgical topics. Prichard's approach avoids overemphasis on division and opens the way for a broader comparison of the Episcopal church's relationship to other Protestant churches.

Confirmation was an important part of the life of the eighteenth-century church which consumed a significant part of the time of bishops, of clergy in their preparation of candidates, and of the candidates themselves in terms of a transition in their Christian life. Yet it has been almost entirely overlooked by scholars. This book aims to fill this void in our understanding, and offers an important contribution and correction of our understanding of the life of the church during the long eighteenth century in both Britain and North America. Tovey addresses two important historical debates: the 'pessimist/optimist' debate on the character and condition of the Church of England in the eighteenth century; and the debate on the 're-enchantment' of the eighteenth century which challenges the secular nature of society in the age of the Enlightenment. Drawing on new developments of the study of visitation returns and episcopal life and on primary research in historical records, Anglican Confirmation goes behind the traditional Tractarian interpretations to uncover the understanding and confidence of the eighteenth-century church in the rite of confirmation. The book will be of interest to eighteenth-century church historians, theologians and liturgists alike.