Janice Holmes

Beyond Religious Discourse

History & Biography

“This is a work of impressive scholarship that adds significantly to our understanding of evangelical Protestantism in nineteenth-century Ireland. Ian Dickson has tackled, in fluent and engaging prose, a subject which has been sorely neglected by existing scholars--the sermon. Covering not only the basics of form and content, he also considers the wider and more problematic issue of impact on the evangelical community itself and society as a whole. His conclusions, derived from an analysis of over 600 sermons, contain an impressive insight into the fundamental tensions and insecurities which underlay a seemingly united, and confident, movement.”