This book offers a definitive account of the recent history and theology of the establishment of the Church of England. Written in an accessible style and at the same time rooted in serious scholarship, it offers a range of views and opinions as well as an awareness of contemporary political and social problems. It asks a number of penetrating questions, including the key issue of the extent to which churches, and particularly the Church of England, can be protected from equality legislation, while at the same time expecting to have special political and social privileges. This issue relates to the thorny problems of the reform of the House of Lords, and even to the future of the Monarchy. While there is no effort to impose a particular agenda or solution, the book is nevertheless often provocative and suggests a number of ways forward for establishment. It is intended as a lively contribution to an often-overlooked debate, which has nevertheless become increasingly important in the multi-cultural context of contemporary Britain.

Series ForewordPreface Sarah Foot1. Why the 'establishment' of the Church of England is Good for a Liberal Society Nigel Biggar2. Opportunity Knocks: Church, Nationhood and Establishment Martyn Percy3. The Dog that Didn't Bark: the Failure of Disestablishment since 1927 Matthew Grimley4. A Free Church in a Free State: Anglo-Catholicism and Establishment Mark D. Chappman5. The Gospel Opportunity or Unbiblical Relic? The Established Church through Anglican Evangelical Eyes Andrew Atherstone6. Gender and Establishment: Parliament, 'Erastianism' and the Ordination of Women1993-2010 Judith Maltby7. The Establishment, Multiculturalism and Social Cohesion Elaine Graham8. A Uniform British Establishment Iain McLean and Scot Peterson9. Methodists and Establishment David Carter10. Anglican Establishment, Roman Catholics, and Receptive Ecumenism Philip Endean SJ11. What future for Establishment? William WhyteIndex