The British Churches and the Process of Consolidation and Transformation of Democracy in Central Eastern Europe since 1985

Abstract

Prominent churchmen in England, particularly connected with Coventry cathedral, had played an active role in promoting contact between west and east in Europe throughout the Cold War. An emphasis was placed on 'reconciliation' in a political context which could see that confrontation as one between 'Christianity' and 'Communism'. It is pointed out, however, that the plurality of churches in the United Kingdom makes it difficult to speak with any confidence about the collective opinions of 'the churches'. The United Kingdom contained territories in which there were still 'established' churches (England, Scotland) and territories where they no longer existed (Wales, Northern Ireland). Ecumenical developments were beginning to change the picture but differences on church/state questions had a bearing on attitudes towards the same issues in Central Eastern Europe. What did 'religious freedom' mean? Those who took a lead in developing relationships often did so because of their own personal backgrounds and connections. They were aware of the extent to which their activities were under surveillance. There was some tension between those who wished to draw attention to the restrictions on the churches and those who were anxious not to be seen simply as mouthing the slogans of 'the West'. The churches, on the whole, were no more enthusiastically 'pro-European' than the British population as a whole and, just as British governments had different historical relationships with particular countries in Central Eastern Europe, so did the churches. So, the picture is not one of a coherent overall response but rather one where particular individuals or particular denominations had specific contacts and roles - Cardinal Basil Hume amongst European Catholic bishops, Anglicans amongst German and Scandinavian/Baltic Lutherans, Baptists amongst their brethren in the Czech Republic and elsewhere. Individuals from Britain played a prominent part in the Conference of European churches.