The Churches and Rights of Passage

Knight, F., Methuen, C. and Spicer, A. (Eds.) (2023) The Churches and Rights of Passage. Series: Studies in church history. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. ISBN 9781009284806

Abstract

Studies in Church History 59 considers The Churches and Rites of Passage. It offers articles which allow sustained reflection on the historical development of life events to which the churches responded with specific rites and ceremonies. The volume contributes to current discussion in life cycle history, as well as ongoing debate about – to use Arnold van Gennep’s term – ‘rites of passage’, both ecclesiastical and secular. The major life cycle events, such as birth (and baptism), marriage and death (and funerals), are considered in this volume, but so too are the churching or ‘purification’ of women after childbirth, confirmation and first communion, ordination, as well as less widespread rites of passage such as royal anointing or the renunciation of wealth. The twenty-two articles span Christian history; they include contributions from Frances Knight (University of Nottingham), Thomas O’Loughlin (University of Nottingham), Elisabeth van Houts (University of Cambridge) and Alexandra Walsham (University of Cambridge). Taken together, the articles collected in this volume offer clear evidence of the continuing potency of ecclesiastical rites of passage, as well as of their ability to be refashioned for the needs of successive generations of believers.

• Item Type: Edited Books
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Methuen, Professor Charlotte
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity; B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BX Christian Denominations; D History General and Old World > D History (General)
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISBN: 9781009284806