The Response of Early British Pentecostals to National Conscription during the Great War (1914-1918)

Abstract

The First World War and its aftermath affected early expressions of Pentecostalism across Europe in many ways. It obviously disrupted attempts of European Pentecostals to seek interaction at a leadership level and to work collaboratively in global mission initiatives. This article explores the various responses of British Pentecostals to the challenge of national conscription. Some Pentecostals remained part of traditional denominations and key leaders, such as Alexander Boddy and Cecil Polhill, remained Anglicans and reflected the Just War ideal. Other Pentecostals had left traditional denominations and so were not protected from the consequences of taking a conscientious objection stance because Pentecostalism in Britain at that time had not formulated itself along recognised denominational lines. This article explores how early Pentecostals responded to national conscription in 1916 and shows the matter was not simply a matter of individual conscience but made an impact upon the identity and development of early British Pentecostalism.