christianity – Page 2 – Manchester Historian

As the woman who brought us both Christmas trees and Christmas crackers, Victoria had more of an effect on your 25th December than you might imagine. Becky Hennell-Smith investigates Victoria’s fascination with Christmas celebrations, as well as the popularity that gave rise to the widespread adoption of these new traditions.

Jamie Sinnott-Davies looks at the events that led to the First Crusades.

The canvas on which tattooing is etched on may only be skin deep, but the history of this art form goes much deeper. If, like me, you have partaken in the joy of the needle (having a professional doodler draw upon your skin not, I hasten to add, drugs) we are participating in a social Continue Reading

Now that Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has announced his impending retirement, there’s been a whole lot of speculation over his successor. But Christians really needn’t worry. Whoever gets the job can’t be nearly as brilliantly bonkers as some of Williams’ predecessors. Take Archbishop George Abbot for example. In 1621 he straight-up killed Continue Reading

The Church of England has had something of a reputation as a reactionary, conservative institution; a pillar of the establishment; a homogeneous, unified, source of unwavering support for the ruling authorities. Not so. The Anglican Church has always been an organisation in which diverse and often radical doctrines have been given a platform. In the Continue Reading