Cambridge Movement
Encyclopedia
The Cambridge Movement was a conservative
ideological school of thought closely related to the Oxford Movement
.
professor
and intellectual
Desiderius Erasmus
. However, the more readily understood beliefs of the movement began in 1833 with a sermon
made by the Reverend John Keble
which was hostile toward a plan by the British Government to diminish the official power of the Anglican Church in the predominantly Roman Catholic Ireland
. It had been argued that it was unjust that Irish catholic taxes should not support the Anglican Church. Keble and his supporters believed that Christianity
in the form of the established Church of England
was above secular government.
Within days of this sermon being preached a meeting was held at the home of Hugh James Rose
. It is Rose who is generally held to be the founder of the Cambridge school of the Oxford
movement while John Newman was the leader of the Oxford movement. At the meeting at Rose's home a resolution was passed to preserve “the apostolic succession and the integrity of the Prayer-Book.” Further beliefs of the movement were views that the medieval church fulfilled a greater need and ministry to its members than that of the 19th century church.
Movement was more liberal
than its counterpart at Oxford
. However, it was concerned with the aesthetics and liturgy
pertaining to the more powerful and spiritual medieval church. This resulted in a great wave of Gothic revival architecture
championed by such followers of the Cambridge Movement as Richard Cromwell Carpenter
and August Pugin.
ritual, conversion to Catholicism in the anti-Popish
climate of the day was a step too far for the British establishment to which many of its members belonged. However, the ideological retrospective school of architecture the movement inspired lingered on for the remainder of the 19th century.
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
ideological school of thought closely related to the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
.
History
It has been claimed the origins of the movement emanate from the teachings of the Cambridge UniversityUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus , known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, and a theologian....
. However, the more readily understood beliefs of the movement began in 1833 with a sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
made by the Reverend John Keble
John Keble
John Keble was an English churchman and poet, one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement, and gave his name to Keble College, Oxford.-Early life:...
which was hostile toward a plan by the British Government to diminish the official power of the Anglican Church in the predominantly Roman Catholic Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It had been argued that it was unjust that Irish catholic taxes should not support the Anglican Church. Keble and his supporters believed that Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in the form of the established Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
was above secular government.
Within days of this sermon being preached a meeting was held at the home of Hugh James Rose
Hugh James Rose
Hugh James Rose was an English churchman and theologian who served as the second Principal of King's College London....
. It is Rose who is generally held to be the founder of the Cambridge school of the Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
movement while John Newman was the leader of the Oxford movement. At the meeting at Rose's home a resolution was passed to preserve “the apostolic succession and the integrity of the Prayer-Book.” Further beliefs of the movement were views that the medieval church fulfilled a greater need and ministry to its members than that of the 19th century church.
Stance
The CambridgeCambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
Movement was more liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
than its counterpart at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. However, it was concerned with the aesthetics and liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
pertaining to the more powerful and spiritual medieval church. This resulted in a great wave of Gothic revival architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
championed by such followers of the Cambridge Movement as Richard Cromwell Carpenter
Richard Cromwell Carpenter
Richard Cromwell Carpenter was an English architect. He is chiefly remembered as an ecclesiastical and tractarian architect working in the Gothic style.-Family:...
and August Pugin.
Decline
The movement began a decline after the conversion of one of its greatest advocate John Newman to Roman Catholicism in 1845. While the movement was strongly in favour of high churchHigh church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
ritual, conversion to Catholicism in the anti-Popish
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
climate of the day was a step too far for the British establishment to which many of its members belonged. However, the ideological retrospective school of architecture the movement inspired lingered on for the remainder of the 19th century.