{"id":1595,"date":"2025-11-26T18:41:56","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T18:41:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianregency.com\/blog\/?p=1595"},"modified":"2025-11-26T18:41:56","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T18:41:56","slug":"god-in-the-regency-part-three-guest-post-by-regan-walker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/11\/26\/god-in-the-regency-part-three-guest-post-by-regan-walker\/","title":{"rendered":"God in the Regency ~ Part Three ~ Guest Post by Regan Walker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Regency Reflections is excited to welcome Regan Walker. Over the next three days we will be sharing a paper Regan wrote entitled \u201cGod in the Regency\u201d. This three part series will give you a terrific overview of the religious environment and shifts in the Regency period.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>

\"Fire<\/a><\/div>\n

Read Part One here.\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Read Part Two here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Other factors should be considered because of how they influenced people\u2019s view of God during this time. New ideas in politics, philosophy, science and art all vied for people\u2019s attention. Two in particular, the scientific discoveries of the time and the Industrial Revolution, may have had dramatic effect on man\u2019s view of his faith during the Regency.<\/p>\n

\"William<\/a>
William Herschel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 1781, while investigating what he and others believed to be a comet, William Herschel, an astronomer, discovered a new planet he named\u00a0 \u201cGeorge\u2019s star,\u201d after King George III. (In 1850, after Herschel\u2019s death, the name would be changed to Uranus.) This was the first planet discovered since ancient times. In 1816, Herschel was knighted, and in 1821 he became President of the Astronomical Society for his achievements. Herschel, a devout Christian, strongly believed that God\u2019s universe was characterized by order and planning. His discovery of that order led him to conclude, \u201c[T]he undevout astronomer must be mad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herschel\u2019s discoveries caused his fellow scientists and theologians to reconsider their prior views of God and the possibility there were other creations in the universe. Not all views expressed were those of believers in God; however, one who was is illustrative of the prevailing attitude. Thomas Dick, a Scottish minister and science teacher, in his book The Sidereal Heavens<\/em>, published in 1840, said of Herschel\u2019s discovery,<\/p>\n

To consider creation, therefore, in all its departments, as extending throughout regions of space illimitable to mortal view, and filled with intelligent existence, is nothing more than what comports with the idea of HIM who inhabiteth immensity, and whose perfections are boundless and past finding out.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Rev.<\/a>
Rev. Thomas Dick<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though he wrote this after the Regency, Dick\u2019s statement is indicative of the view during the early 19th-century in which science was dominated by clergymen-scientists, men dedicated to their scientific work but still committed to their faith in God. Scientific discoveries were seen as entirely consistent with a belief in a Creator. Geologist William Buckland, mathematician Baden Powell and polymath William Whewell found little conflict in their roles as clergymen and men of science.<\/p>\n

The Industrial Revolution transformed English society during the 18th<\/sup> and 19th<\/sup> centuries and would certainly cause people to question the established order of things, including the church. During the 18th<\/sup> century, England’s population nearly doubled. The industry most important in the rise of England as an industrial nation was cotton textiles. A series of inventions in the 18th<\/sup> century led to machines that could and did replace human laborers, and the use of new, mineral based materials that replaced those based on animal and vegetable material. The effect of machines replacing workers, particularly in the textile industry, was keenly felt in some parts of England.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Luddites smashing the looms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the period 1811-1816, a group called \u201cthe Luddites\u201d reacted by smashing thousands of machines developed for use in the textile industries in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire; thus the Midlands became the center of much unrest. The poor, crippled by bad harvests and taxes and resentful at having no vote, rose up. At times, the clergy would even become involved. For example Hugh Wolstenholme, curate of Pentrich in Derbyshire, took a stand on the side of his parishioners and was critical of the government in the Rebellion of 1817. For his role, he had to flee to America. Interestingly, he attended Trinity College Cambridge when Charles Simeon was the rector.<\/p>\n

\"Charles<\/a>
Charles Simeon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As England changed from an agricultural to an industrial economy during the 19th<\/sup> century, the lives of the working class were disrupted and many people relocated from the countryside to the towns. In 1801, at the time of the first census, only about 20% of the population lived in towns. By 1851, the figure had risen to over 50%. New social relationships emerged with the growing working and middle classes. During this time of upheaval and relocation, which began in the Regency, though some individuals, like Charles Simeon, exercised great spiritual influence, the Church as a whole would fail to grapple with the problems that resulted from the huge surge in population and the growth of industrial towns. Still, perhaps both the problems and the movement of people to the towns, where they might have heard the message of the great preachers of the day, spurred them to examine their faith. One can only hope.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Selected Sources and Books\/Articles of Interest<\/span>:
\n<\/strong>Several of the resources listed below can be clicked on to take you to them. \u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

All Things Austen, An Encyclopedia of Austen\u2019s World,<\/em><\/strong> Vols. I & II <\/strong><\/em>(articles on the Clergy and Religion) <\/strong>by Kirstin Olsen<\/p>\n

S<\/em><\/strong>elina, Countess of Huntingdon<\/em><\/strong> by Faith Cook<\/p>\n

The Bachelor Duke, 6th<\/sup> Duke of Devonshire 1790-1858<\/em><\/strong> by James Lees-Milne<\/p>\n

An Introduction to the History of the Church in England<\/em><\/strong><\/a> by Henry Offley Wakeman (3rd<\/sup> edition, 1897 on Google Books)
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Higher and Middle classes in This Country Contrasted with Real Christianity<\/em><\/strong><\/a>,<\/em> by William Wilberforce, 1798<\/p>\n

Religious Upheaval During 17th<\/sup> Century England<\/a> by Katherine Pym<\/p>\n

The Clapham Sect<\/a> by O. Hardman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Life in the 19th<\/sup> Century<\/a> by Tim Lambert<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taylor University: Charles Simeon<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Eras of Elegance: Religion and Spirituality<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The Regency World of Author Lesley-Anne McLeod<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Jane Austen and the Evangelicals<\/a><\/p>\n

A Nation Improving in Religion: Jane Austen\u2019s Prayers and Their Place in Her Life and Art<\/strong><\/a> by Bruce Stovel<\/p>\n

Nancy Mayer, Regency Researcher, <\/strong>The Bishops and Archbishops in England in 1815<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The Anglican Library<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Oxbridge Writers: George IV: The Prince Regent<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Church Furnishing in 19th<\/sup> Century England<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The History Guide: The Origins of the Industrial Revolution in England <\/strong><\/a>by Steven Kreis, Ph.D.<\/p>\n

On Herschel\u2019s Forty-Foot Telescope by <\/em>Kathleen Lundeen<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Amazing Grace: the Story of John Newton<\/a> by Al Rogers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jane Austen and Slavery<\/a> by Ibn Warraq<\/strong><\/p>\n

Austen, Emma<\/em> and the Prince<\/a> by Stever King<\/strong><\/p>\n

From The Victorian Web:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Nineteenth-Century Riots and Civil Disorders<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Victorian Science and Religion<\/strong><\/a> (referring to early 19th<\/sup> century beliefs)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Originally posted 2012-10-26 10:00:00. <\/small><\/p>

\"Listen<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Regency Reflections is excited to welcome Regan Walker. Over the next three days we will be sharing a paper Regan wrote entitled \u201cGod in the Regency\u201d. This three part series will give you a terrific overview of the religious environment and shifts in the Regency period.\u00a0 Read Part One here.\u00a0 Read Part Two here.\u00a0 Other […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1595"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1595\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1775,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1595\/revisions\/1775"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}