George Bell remains one of only a handful of twentieth-century English bishops to possess a continuing international reputation for his involvement in political affairs. His insistence that Christian faith required active participation in public life, at home and abroad, established an eminent, and often provocative, contribution to Christian ethics at large. Bell's participation in the tragic history of the German resistance against Hitler has earned him an enduring place in the historiography of the Third Reich; his February 1944 speech protesting against the obliteration bombing of Germany, made in the House of Lords, is still often considered one of the great prophetic speeches of the twentieth century. Throughout his long career, Bell became a leading light in the burgeoning ecumenical movement, a supporter of refugees from dictatorships of all kinds, a committed internationalist and a patron of the Arts. This book draws together the work of leading international historians and theologians, including Rowan Williams, and makes an important contribution to a range of ongoing political, ecumenical and international debates.
George Bell remains one of only a handful of twentieth-century English bishops to possess a continuing international reputation for his involvement in political affairs. Throughout his long career, Bell became a leading light in the burgeoning ecumenical movement, a supporter of refugees from dictatorships of all kinds, a committed internationalist and a patron of the Arts. This book draws together the work of leading international historians and theologians, including Rowan Williams, and makes an important contribution to a range of ongoing political, ecumenical and international debates.
'George Bell, Bishop of Chichester from 1929 to 1958, has long been recognized as one of the outstanding figures in the Church of England in his generation. He stood out from his colleagues by his striking commitment both to bringing the churches together in unity and to the cause of international peace and justice. This collection of essays in his honour has been edited by Andrew Chandler, Director of the George Bell Institute at the University of Chichester. The contributors are a distinguished and international group of scholars of church history, including the present Archbishop of Canterbury. This study provides an insightful and updated evaluation of Bishop Bell's significant contributions to the life of both his own and the wider church during the turbulent years of the mid-twentieth century.' John S. Conway, author of The Nazi Persecution of the Churches 1933-1945 'Andrew Chandler gathers international scholars to present the life and work of George Bell, Bishop of Chichester - a key person in ecumenical work. This book presents a broad yet distinct picture of Bishop Bell from the angle of Church and humanity, emphasizing his patronage of resistance. Bishop Bell's work in the fields of organization, moral theology, and politics is analyzed from different perspectives; scholars from India, Finland and Germany add important issues such as the trial of German war criminals as a moral history, or Bishop Bell and the promotion of Anglican-Lutheran relations. Rowan Williams concludes the book with his views on Bishop Bell and the Church of England. A thorough bibliography is included.' Anders Jarlert, Lund University, Sweden
