The Gorham Controversy - Great Meeting of Clergy and Laity, in St. Martin's Hall, Long-Acre, 1850. Creator: Unknown

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The Gorham Controversy - Great Meeting of Clergy and Laity, in St. Martin's Hall, Long-Acre, 1850. Creator: Unknown

The Gorham Controversy - Great Meeting of Clergy and Laity, in St. Martin's Hall, Long-Acre, [London], 1850. Clergymen met to discuss the case of...George Cornelius Gorham, a clergyman holding heretical doctrines, [who] is to be forced into a vicarage with cure of souls...surely no ordinary peril could have assembled here from places far apart so many hundreds, not of turbulent agitators, but of retiring and peaceful men - no peril less than that which now impends - the peril of their faith. That faith has been assailed, impugned, insulted...'. Gorham's view of baptism was considered to be heretical by many members of the Church of England, making him, in their view, unsuitable for the post of vicar. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council disagreed, causing great controversy about whether a secular court should decide on the doctrine of the Church of England. From "Illustrated London News", 1850

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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the intensity and gravity of The Gorham Controversy, a pivotal moment in the history of the Church of England. The Great Meeting of Clergy and Laity, held in St. Martin's Hall, Long-Acre, London, in 1850, brought together hundreds of religious leaders from across the country. The assembly was convened to discuss the case of Reverend George Cornelius Gorham, a clergyman whose views on baptism were deemed heretical by many within the Church. Gorham's appointment as vicar of Brampford Speke, Devon, had been met with fierce opposition due to his unorthodox beliefs. The controversy reached a fever pitch when the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ruled in Gorham's favor, allowing him to retain his position. This decision sparked outrage among the clergy and laity, who believed that the secular court had overstepped its bounds in deciding matters of Church doctrine. The scene depicted in this photograph shows the passionate and determined faces of the assembled clergy and laity, their expressions conveying a deep sense of concern for their faith and the future of the Church. The caption in the Illustrated London News, which accompanied the image, underscores the gravity of the situation, stating that 'no ordinary peril could have assembled here from places far apart so many hundreds, not of turbulent agitators, but of retiring and peaceful men - no peril less than that which now impends - the peril of their faith.' The Gorham Controversy marked a significant turning point in the Church of England, as it highlighted the tension between the secular and religious spheres and raised important questions about the role of the state in religious matters. This powerful image serves as a reminder of the passion and conviction that underpinned the debates and deliberations of this historic gathering.

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