Patriotism and Pacifism in Early British Pentecostalism: The Divergent Views of A.A. Boddy and A.S. Booth-Clibborn

This book explores the polarizing and divisive views of patriotism and pacifism as they impacted upon the early Pentecostal movement in Britain at the time of the Great War (1914-1918) and in the years immediately following. A critique is offered on the different views of two leading characters within early British Pentecostalism.Alexander Alfred Boddy (1854-1930), was the acknowledged father of early Pentecostalism in Britain. He was an ordained, long-serving, Anglican minister. Boddy published and edited a popular Pentecostal newsletter, Confidence, from 1908 through to 1926. Boddy was a patriot, and his patriotism is assessed through a study of aspects of his life, ministry, and writing.Arthur Sydney Booth-Clibborn (1855-1939), was the son-in-law of William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. Booth-Clibborn was a prominent figure in the Salvation Army in Europe and later within early Pentecostalism. He was a lifelong pacifist and wrote an important book on the subject, Blood Against Blood. Booth-Clibborn’s Christian pacifism is examined through aspects of his life, ministry, and writing.The opposing views of Boddy and Booth-Clibborn are critiqued and act as a catalyst for the discussion that underpins this book. Their legacy is also assessed.