The aim of this study is to identify the reasons behind Anglican voters’ association with the
Conservative Party. In the first section, the study will assess the relevant data taken from
‘Voting and Values in Britain: Does religion count?’ by researchers at Theos Think Tank. The
research supports the assumption that Anglicans are more likely to vote Conservative than
any other political party.
Having distinguished the facts, the second section of the study will establish the reasoning
behind this relationship. Here, the thesis will draw upon a number of sources in order to
explain the association.
It was concluded that Anglican voters’ association with the Conservative Party is largely a
response to the historical relationship between the two. It was further concluded that much
of the reasoning behind Anglican voters’ preference may be down to their values regarding
key moral issues. Areas for further research are also suggested within this study.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Literature review
Data Analysis and Methodological Considerations
The Conservative Party – its influence on Anglican voters
The Church of England – a political influence on its members?
The Future for Anglican Voters – where will their allegiance be?
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this study is to identify and explain the underlying reasons for the enduring association between Anglican voters and the Conservative Party in Britain. By analyzing historical voting trends and theological influences, the research seeks to determine whether this political preference is driven by the Conservative Party's specific policy agenda, the Anglican Church’s political theology, or a complex combination of both factors within an increasingly secular society.
- The historical relationship between the Church of England and the Conservative Party
- The impact of modern social and moral debates, such as equal marriage, on voter alignment
- Statistical analysis of religious voting patterns since 1959
- The emergence of a 'religious right' and 'Conservative Evangelicals' within the British political context
Excerpt from the Book
The Conservative Party – its influence on Anglican voters
Having identified a relationship between the Conservative Party and Anglican voters, this paper will now move on to attempt to explain the reasons for this. This first analytical chapter aims to understand and explain the influence the Conservative Party has had in attracting Anglican voters. The chapter will specifically contribute to answering research question two, which is concerned with the impact the Conservative Party’s politics have had on Anglican voters, past and present. This section will briefly assess the key historical factors which have influenced levels of Anglican support over time. Thereafter, much of the analysis in this chapter will consider the current state of the relationship, as this work seeks to understand why levels of Conservative Party support have remained relatively high amongst Anglican voters.
The relationship between the Church and the Conservatives is one that goes back to the beginning of the Party. The Tories, as they were most commonly known, were “the party of the Church of England” (Leach, 1991, p. 91). The Conservative Party’s recognition as the ‘Party of the Church’, is clear evidence of the history between the two. Although this association is now rarely made, conversely, Leach (1991) has argued that the relationship is still evident. He writes the “crown and the monarchy are still important symbols” and the modern day Conservative Party “retains sufficient links with the Church of England” (Leach, 1991, p.91). It is these reasons, as well as a history of association with the Church, which justifies the description “the Tory Party at prayer” (O’ Donnell, 1990, p.60). This is a phrase which was more commonly used because of the history between the Tories and the Church, but it is a statement occasionally still used today. In order to appreciate why this is the case, we must first seek to understand what the current state of the relationship is.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the contextual background of the "Tory party at prayer" concept and defines the core research questions regarding the ongoing relationship between Anglicanism and Conservative voting patterns.
Literature review: Evaluates existing academic discourse on the intersection of religion and politics, highlighting the relative scarcity of research regarding the specific British context compared to the American model.
Data Analysis and Methodological Considerations: Outlines the use of secondary data from the Theos Think Tank and the British Election Survey to empirically examine voting trends from 1959 to 2010.
The Conservative Party – its influence on Anglican voters: Investigates the historical and contemporary ties between Tory ideology and the Church of England, exploring how political leadership interacts with Christian values.
The Church of England – a political influence on its members?: Examines the institutional challenges of the Church of England, including internal divisions over social issues and the impact of these stances on the political alignment of its congregants.
The Future for Anglican Voters – where will their allegiance be?: Discusses potential future trajectories for Anglican voters, including the possibility of shifts toward parties like UKIP in response to perceived ideological drifts.
Conclusion: Synthesizes findings and suggests that while a historic link exists, the Church's struggle to remain relevant in a secularizing society poses significant challenges to the traditional political allegiances of its members.
Keywords
Anglican voters, Conservative Party, Church of England, voting behavior, British politics, secularization, religious right, Tory party at prayer, equal marriage, political ideology, Christian Evangelicals, election studies, British Election Survey, political allegiance, theology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research examines the long-standing political relationship between Anglican voters and the Conservative Party in Britain, exploring why this demographic has historically favored the Conservatives.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The study focuses on the historical "Tory party at prayer" association, the impact of modern moral debates like equal marriage, the role of Church hierarchy, and the emergence of religiously-motivated political groups.
What is the main research question?
The work asks to what extent Anglican support for the Conservative Party is driven by political strategy, theological alignment, or a shared set of cultural and moral values.
Which methodology does the author utilize?
The study employs secondary data analysis, primarily utilizing the British Election Survey (BES) and the British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA) to track voting patterns over a 55-year period.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers a comprehensive literature review, an analysis of historical party-church dynamics, a study of the Church's internal response to modern political issues, and a forward-looking assessment of voter trends.
Which keywords define this study?
The study is defined by terms such as Anglican voters, Conservative Party, British politics, secularization, and religious voting behavior.
How does the author define the "Tory party at prayer"?
It is presented as an historical description indicating a deep, traditional bond between the Conservative Party and the Church of England, rooted in shared institutional and cultural history.
What role does the equal marriage debate play in this study?
The debate serves as a significant case study illustrating the friction between the Church of England's traditional stance and the modern, more liberal policy direction taken by the Conservative leadership.
Does the study suggest the link between the Church and Conservatives will last?
The author expresses skepticism, noting that as Britain continues to secularize and the Church struggles with internal and societal divides, the historical political alignment is becoming increasingly fragile.
- Quote paper
- Joshua Bell (Author), 2014, "The Tory Party at Prayer". An assessment of Anglican voters' association with the Conservative Party, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/281978
