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Book Review: The Challenge of the City: The Centenary History of the Wesley Central Mission 1893–1993

between Max Weber and the Ritschlians and the socialism of Karl Barth, as well as offering some fascinating reconsiderations on the conclusions of the American sociologist Will Herberg. In the articles relating to the links between different aspects of the eighteenth century revival movements, he explores the significance of forgotten religious controversies, the impact of leaders like Spener, Liberda, Tersteegen, Schaitberger and Zinzendorf and the ways in which Protestant folk piety was dept alive in times of persecution and the absence of religious leaders. Ward's work on Zinzendorf and the Moravians is of particular importance, for it is unique in English for its depth and scholarship, as well as helping readers understand the attraction the Moravians had for John Wesley. Indeed his knowledge of European Protestantism was lost by his followers until the twentieth century. Articles on Methodists and Baptists throw fresh light on the forms of organisation developed by British and American Evangelicals. Ward's researches underline the importance of leadership able to create enduring institutions which reflect and reinforce the hopes of ordinary Christians. He shows the limitations of the over-simple uses of the term "secularisation" to explain too much. His essay on "Faith and Fallacy" is a fine analysis of Victorian faith and theology. Similarly, his reflections on Rerum Novarum give him opportunity to explore the limitations of European Social Catholicism, which he does with telling effect, though not so comprehensively as he does with Protestant Social Christianity in Britain. A book like this is demanding reading, but Ward writes lucidly about great themes and demonstrates the value of sharp historical analysis for credible Christianity. Witty and penetrating judgements combined with informative footnotes make this a very valuable collection.