Sectarian violence in nineteenth century Liverpool : a study of the origins, nature and scale of the Catholic-Protestant conflict in working class Liverpool, 1819-1914

Neal, F

Abstract

The central concern of this study is the nature,
origin and scale of the physical conflict between
Protestants and Catholics in Liverpool throughout the
period 1819 to 1914. This topic is examined within the
framework of the endemic anti-Catholicism of Victorian
England and the reactions to the dismantling of the
privileges of the established Church. In addition, the
scale of Irish immigration into Liverpool during the
nineteenth century and its consequences for local
government and the maintenance of public order are
discussed and related to the phenomenon of sectarian
violence.
From this framework, certain themes are selected for
detailed study and related to the core issue of physical
sectarian conflict. Using both official sources and
newspaper material, an account is given of the appearance
and growth of the English Orange Order, its mexrüership,
objectives and its role in formenting sectarian conflict.
In particular, the relationship between Liverpool
Conservatism and Orangeism before 1850 is examined in
detail. The strength of the middle class adherence to
Church and Constitution politics is an important theme
within this study and the mechanism whereby such concerns
were transferred to working class Protestants by
evangelical Anglican clergy is examined in the context of
Liverpool. Particular attention is also paid to the tensions within the Chruch of England arising from the
activities of ritualist clergy and the consequences of
this controversy in working-class Liverpool. The roles
played by two individuals, Hugh McNeile and George Wise,
in formenting sectarian violence are examined closely.
Lastly, and most important from the viewpoint of the
study's objective, the nature of the physical conflict,
its extent and its enduring quality, together with its
divisive effects on Liverpool's working class community is
demonstrated.

Citation

Neal, F. Sectarian violence in nineteenth century Liverpool : a study of the origins, nature and scale of the Catholic-Protestant conflict in working class Liverpool, 1819-1914. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Aug 16, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 16, 2011
• Award Date: Jan 1, 1987