'There has long been a need for a book exploring the story of the relationship - subtle, complex and shifting - between the church and the stage in the nineteenth century. That need has now been decisively remedied in Richard Foulkes' superb new book, Church and Stage in Victorian England. Wide ranging, meticulously researched and compulsively readable, Foulkes' account traces what was in effect a revolution in relations between the two institutions which began the century in fierce opposition to each other but ended it in mutual respect. With this book Foulkes has made a major contribution both to theatre history and to Irving studies.' Jeffrey Richards, First Knight

• List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introit; 1. Heralds of change; 2. Censure and censorship; 3. Two professions; 4. Clerical attitudes; 5 Self-improvement; 6. Shakespeare; 7. From Passion Play to pantomime; 8. The ancient universities; 9. Actresses; 10. Headlam, hell and Hole; 11. Henry Arthur Jones and Wilson Barrett; 12. Henry Irving; Epilogue; References; Index.

'There has long been a need for a book exploring the story of the relationship - subtle, complex and shifting - between the church and the stage in the nineteenth century. That need has now been decisively remedied in Richard Foulkes' superb new book, Church and Stage in Victorian England. Wide ranging, meticulously researched and compulsively readable, Foulkes' account traces what was in effect a revolution in relations between the two institutions which began the century in fierce opposition to each other but ended it in mutual respect. With this book Foulkes has made a major contribution both to theatre history and to Irving studies.' Jeffrey Richards, First Knight

• List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introit; 1. Heralds of change; 2. Censure and censorship; 3. Two professions; 4. Clerical attitudes; 5 Self-improvement; 6. Shakespeare; 7. From Passion Play to pantomime; 8. The ancient universities; 9. Actresses; 10. Headlam, hell and Hole; 11. Henry Arthur Jones and Wilson Barrett; 12. Henry Irving; Epilogue; References; Index.

'There has long been a need for a book exploring the story of the relationship - subtle, complex and shifting - between the church and the stage in the nineteenth century. That need has now been decisively remedied in Richard Foulkes' superb new book, Church and Stage in Victorian England. Wide ranging, meticulously researched and compulsively readable, Foulkes' account traces what was in effect a revolution in relations between the two institutions which began the century in fierce opposition to each other but ended it in mutual respect. With this book Foulkes has made a major contribution both to theatre history and to Irving studies.' Jeffrey Richards, First Knight

• List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introit; 1. Heralds of change; 2. Censure and censorship; 3. Two professions; 4. Clerical attitudes; 5 Self-improvement; 6. Shakespeare; 7. From Passion Play to pantomime; 8. The ancient universities; 9. Actresses; 10. Headlam, hell and Hole; 11. Henry Arthur Jones and Wilson Barrett; 12. Henry Irving; Epilogue; References; Index.