Capitalists and Christians: Business Leaders and the Churches in Britain 1900-1960

This is a study of the relationship between capitalism and Christianity in twentieth-century Britain. David Jeremy examines the collective biographies of three business élites in order to explore issues important to business and religion. How did the churches shape the thinking of future business leaders? What impact did Christianity have on big business? How has the participation of business people in religious life affected the major Protestant denominations? David Jeremy traces the development of business values in a formally Christian society; he shows how churchmen among business leaders related their faith to their business and the dilemmas this could entail; and he uncovers the varying parts played by businessmen from personal involvement in their local congregation to funding and organizing major denominations, or an interdenominational venture like the 1954 Billy Graham Crusade to London. Using a wide range of sources, including newspapers and journals, unpublished records, and interviews, Dr Jeremy has produced a thought-provoking analysis of a relationship that can be both tense and fruitful. His insights into the private faith and business ethics of leading entrepreneurs and businessmen are underpinned by intensive quantitative analysis. Capitalists and Christians is an invaluable study of the intertwining of two vital strands in twentieth-century British history.

Table of Contents:
Abbreviations; Introduction: Business leaders and churches: issues and approaches; Part I. Contexts: Business structures, religious structures and business elites 1900-1960; Part II. Formations: Church views of business 1900-1960; Christian influence in the formation of business values, skills, and networks in British business elites 1900-1960; Part III. Advance or retreat? Christians in big business prologue. The numbers involved; The industrial sectors preferred; Christians in big business leadership before 1914; Christians in big business leadership between the wars; Churchmen in big business leadership during the 1940s and 1950s; Part IV. Mammon in the Temple: commercial men in the churches; Prologue; Businessmen in the church of England 1900-1960; The Methodist experience 1900-1960; Nonconformists and Celts 1900-1960; Interdenominational scenes 1900-1960; Conclusion; Appendix: The hundred largest companies in 1907, 1935, and 1955; Sources; Index

Review :
`This book stands on its own ... It is certainly a MAGNUM ALPHA.' Twentieth Century British History Vol 2 No 2 `Dr Jeremy has clearly marked out the questions we should ask and how we might go about answering them.' John Stevenson, Times Higher Education Supplement `The author is uniquely qualified for this undertaking. It is a major service to have provided a solid comparative basis from which questions raised can be pursued.' Gerald Studdert-Kennedy, Times Literary Supplement `The book is meticulously researched and provides a scholarly and highly readable survey of some major issues, with detailed case studies ... David Jeremy offers an important study. It will be of use, in its information and analysis as well as its references, tables and bibliography, to the serious student of both church and business history.' Social History Society Newsletter `a thorough and detergent empiricism, systematically generating and ordering a massive body of evidence, while preserving professional caution about its reliabilitiy and the weight of interpretation it can carry.' Gerald Studdert-Kennedy, Times Literary Supplement `Mr Jeremy provides an important source book for all Christians to make common cause in the restoration of the social gospel.' The Month 'Dr Jeremy has written a scholarly study of the relationship between Christianity and business practice. His attention to fine detail in the search for primary sources has been indefatigable and there can be little doubt that his work will prove definitive.' Maurice Kirby, University of Lancaster, Business History, Vol. 34, No. 2, Jasn '92 'Here is the very finest in the way of detailed scholarship among business - but more especially church-related - records, biographies, and memoirs.' Callum G. Brown, University of Strathclyde, Economic History Review, Nov '91 'David Jeremy's book must have a special place in the large literature on the relations of the churches to industrial society in modern Britain, because it is based on massive original quantitative research, meticulously reported. The book is far from being wholly statistical. There is much detailed biographical material. And there are some excellent treatments of key episodes.' Haddon Willmer, University of Leeds, History. Oct '92 'this substantial monograph confirms his reputation as the leading British scholar in this particular field ... Jeremy himself has done well and has shown himself to be a good and faithful servant of his profession.' Keith Robbins, St David's University College, Lampeter, Ecclesiastical History, Vol. 43, No. 3, 1992 'Dr Jeremy here reveals his extensive knowledge of individuals and of the context in which they worked. He has much of great interest and perceptivity to say about their social attitudes, religious convictions, denominational involvements, and industrial policies ... The scholarship of this large and important book is undoubtedly impressive.' G.E. Milburn, Proceedings of the Wesley Historical Society, Volume 49, Part 1, February 1993 '... he has amassed a huge amount of detail about the religious influences helping to shape the lives of big businessmen, Dr Jeremy has quarried with superlative assiduity over many years to present a great deal of quantified knowledge on how the churches influenced leading businessmen,' G.I.T. Machin University of Dundee EHR Shorter Notices April '94 'David Jeremy provides an instructive case study... he is well placed to do his topic justice... thorough study of religious-minded leaders serving on denominational committees... Jeremy has provided a lively and well-ordered work of academic quality that deserves a wide readership.' T. A. B. Corley, Business History Review, Vol. 68, Spring 1994