Two Worlds: The Protestant Culture of Nineteenth-Century Ontario (McGill-Queen’s Studies in the Hist of Re)

by William Westfall

Religion was at the heart of Ontario life for many years. In Two Worlds, Westfall examines the origin, character, and social significance of the powerful and distinctive Protestant culture that grew and flourished in Southern Ontario in the mid-Victorian

Genres: History, Canada, Nonfiction

273 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1988

Reviews

[Troy Nevitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a helpful book to see the development of Protestantism in Ontario, especially with the development of the Methodists and the cultural advancements and artistic choices churches made.

A few academic journals I read praise Westfall for his work, showing much of the landscape of nineteenth century Protestants in Ontario, but they also share a common theme that he overstates his case of the "two world" paradigm. Order and expression/experience, political and theological. They are often working with each other, and you can see that, yet they are set as opposites.

[Andrew Emery · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book about both the establishment Anglican/Presbyterian church and the Methodist movement and how they had to adapt to an emerging materialist/secular culture and the disruption of millennial groups (Irvingites, Millerites, Dispensationalists, etc.) in nineteenth century Ontario.