Missionaries, Modernism, and German Theology: Anglican Reactions to the Outbreak of War in 1914

Abstract

AbstractThis paper discusses the Anglican reaction to the so-called “Appeal to the Civilised World” of October 1914 in its broader context. After briefly outlining the direct response to the Appeal it then goes on to discuss the prevailing perception of Germany by English theologians as well as the complex relationship of English theology to German liberalism. It moves on to discuss the aftermath of the inter-denominational Kikuyu Missionary Conference which had taken place in 1913. This had divided the Anglican Communion since Anglo-Catholics, led by Frank Weston, Bishop of Zanzibar, disapproved of intercommunion with nonepiscopal churches. After the outbreak of war, there were calls from Germany for unity in the mission field since Christian nations could not be seen to be at war with one another. Anglo-Catholic opposition to Kikuyu was coupled with a long-standing anti-liberalism which soon became fiercely anti-German in its rhetoric. Somewhat unwittingly the primitive German and English propaganda machines helped seal the fate of liberal theology into the next generation on account of its “Made in Germany” origins.