National Worship in International perspective: state prayers, fasts and thanksgivings since the sixteenth century

Many early modern and modern governments ordered occasions of special worship in periods of great crisis or unexpected prosperity, or to mark calamities or victories.   As a growing number of studies has indicated, these occasions offer great insights into government and ecclesiastical policies, the communication of official religious interpretations, conceptions of identity and popular belief, but also religious and political dissent.  Such special worship has considerable interest for religious, political, cultural and intellectual historians, and scholars in theology, literature, sociology and anthropology.  

This conference will bring together experts on these occasions of special state-ordered worship in different countries and different periods, in order to explore similarities and contrasts and to develop new interdisciplinary approaches.

The organisers are Natalie Mears, Alasdair Raffe, Stephen Taylor and Philip Williamson, members of the project on ‘British State Prayers, Fasts and Thanksgivings, 1540s-1940s’, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Confirmed speakers include Nigel Aston (France), Toby Barnard (Ireland), Richard Carwardine (USA), Simon Dixon (Russia), Matthew Mulcahy (West Indies), Johann van der Merwe (South Africa), Peter van Rooden (Netherlands) and Andrew Spicer (Exiles).

Proposals for further papers (20 minutes) are invited from scholars in any discipline.  These should consist of a title and a 250-word abstract, outlining the significance of the subject and research questions.  Proposals should be submitted before 15 February 2010.

Conference fee: £150 (non-residential, inc. meals); £180-£235 (residential).  Day rates available.  

Bursaries for postgraduate students are available.