Religion and Irish Society 1850-1875

1
Religion and Irish Society 1850-1875
2
Religious affiliation in Ireland
The Church of Ireland (Anglican) and Irish
Presbyterianism
Sectarian tension
Problems within the Catholic Church
Mass attendance rates

Popular religion

The impact on the famine

3
The Devotional Revolution
The role of Paul Cullen

A changing priesthood

4
In the nearly thirty years that he faithfully
served Rome in Ireland, Cardinal Paul Cullen not
only reformed the Irish Church, but perhaps what
was even more important, in the process of
reforming that Church he spearheaded the
consolidation of a devotional revolution. The
great mass of the Irish people became practicing
Catholics, which they have uniquely and
essentially remained both at home and abroad down
to the present day. Larkin, Emmet, (1972),
The devotional revolution in Ireland 1850-1875,
American Historical Review, 77, p625.
5
In 1834 the Commissioners of Public Instruction
calculated that 80.9 percent of the population of
Ireland were Catholics, while 10.7 percent were
members of the Anglican Church of Ireland, and
some 8.1 percent were Presbyterians.
In 1861 Catholics made up 77.7 percent of total
population. Anglicans accounted for 12 percent
and Presbyterians 9 percent.
6
In 1861 Catholics comprised a minority of the
population in four of the counties of Ulster
(Antrim, Armagh, Down and Londonderry).
Catholics were also a minority in Belfast and
Carrickfergus. In two other Ulster counties
(Fermanagh and Tyrone) they made up a little more
than half the population. Catholics made up 86
of the population in Leinster, and more than 90
in Munster and Connacht
7
96 of Presbyterians lived in Ulster. Irish
Anglicans were quite dispersed. 56 of Anglicans
lived in Ulster, 25 lived Leinster, 12 in
Munster and only 6 percent in Connacht.
8
The Church of Ireland in the early 19th
centuryBishops and archbishops appointed by the
governmentLower clergy often did not reside
in their parishesMany clerics were
pluralistsChurches were often in poor condition
9
Baptists grew from around 500 members in 1800 to
an estimated 2000 by 1818 and to 4237 by 1861.
The number enrolled in Methodist societies rose
from 3000 in the late 1760s to 19000 by 1800 and
to 36,903 by 1830.
10
The Second Reformation is the name given to the
early and mid 19th century campaign to promote
the mass conversion of the Irelands Catholic
population to Protestantism.
11
The Catholic Church in early 19th century Ireland

• Some priests
• neglected basic pastoral duties
• did not preach regularly
• failed to provide for the religious instruction
  of the young
• Did not ensure their parishoners fulfilled their
  religious duties

12
First Report of the Commissioners of Public
Instruction, Ireland (1835)
Mass attendance figures 40-60 in Dublin, Cork,
Belfast and Limerick 80-100 in other Irish
towns 30-60 in rural English speaking areas
20-40 in the rural Irish speaking areas
13
Revised mass attendance figures50-75 in
Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Limerick 100 in
other Irish towns 37-75 in rural English
speaking areas 25-50 in the rural Irish
speaking areas
14
Going to Mass, 1870
15
Popular forms of religion in IrelandThe
celebration of festivals that marked turning
points in the agricultural year -St Brigids day
(1 Feb), May Eve and St Johns Eve (23 June)
Lucky and unlucky actionsCharms
WakesPatterns
16
he had herbs in his hand, and he gave
instructions to Michael Cleary to boil them and
make the sign of the cross and go round the house
making pishrogues. Bourke, Angela, The Burning
of Bridget Cleary, pp82-83.
17
Michael Cleary
18
Scene at an Irish wake, 1873
19
Pattern a local festival celebrated at a holy
well or other significant venue on the feast day
of the saint to whom the site was dedicated. By
the 18th century patterns were a major venue for
popular sociabilityParticipants typically
combined prayers and ritual observations at the
well or other site with dancing and other forms
of celebration.Oxford Companion to Irish
History, p458
20
The devotional revolution is a term coined in
1972 by the American historian Emmet Larkin to
describe what he saw as a sudden and dramatic
transformation of popular religious practice in
Ireland in the period from 1850 to 1875.
21
Cardinal Paul Cullen (1803-78)
22
Cardinal Paul Cullen (1803-78)Committed to
ultramontanismInsisted on the authority of
bishops over priestsThe popes chief whip in
IrelandBrought the Catholic Church in Ireland
into line with Roman discipline
23
The Synod of Thurles
Tightened ecclesiastical discipline
Introduced greater uniformity into
religious observances Decided that the
sacraments would be transferred from the home to
the church Adopted measures to counteract
Protestant missionary activities Opposed
government education schemes