There have been several studies of the Ritualist Movement and the controversy it provoked, but none have explored the role of Evangelicals or considered the impact of the controversy on their party. This volume examines the motivation and methods of the anti-Ritualist Movement from the relatively unreported perspective of the Evangelical party.

The controversy gave rise to a new partisanship within the Church of England, but it could not provide Evangelicals with a sense of unity. Concern over the growth of Ritualism came to dominate Evangelical interests in the second half of the nineteenth century, but conflict over the direction and extent of their controversial efforts were responsible for shattering a fragile Evangelical unity.