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The Catholics: The Church and its People in Britain and Ireland, from the Reformation to the Present Day
The story of Catholicism in Britain from the Reformation to the present day, from a master of popular history - 'a first-class storyteller' The Times
Throughout the three hundred years that followed the Act of Supremacy – which, by making Henry VIII head of the Church, confirmed in law the breach with Rome – English Catholics were prosecuted, persecuted and penalised for the public expression of their faith. Even after the passing of the emancipation acts Catholics were still the victims of institutionalised discrimination.
The first book to tell the story of the Catholics in Britain in a single volume, The Catholics includes much previously unpublished information. It focuses on the lives, and sometimes deaths, of individual Catholics – martyrs and apostates, priests and laymen, converts and recusants. It tells the story of the men and women who faced the dangers and difficulties of being what their enemies still call ‘Papists’. It describes the laws which circumscribed their lives, the political tensions which influenced their position within an essentially Anglican nation and the changes in dogma and liturgy by which Rome increasingly alienated their Protestant neighbours – and sometime even tested the loyalty of faithful Catholics.
The survival of Catholicism in Britain is the triumph of more than simple faith. It is the victory of moral and spiritual unbending certainty. Catholicism survives because it does not compromise. It is a characteristic that excites admiration in even a hardened atheist.
Throughout the three hundred years that followed the Act of Supremacy – which, by making Henry VIII head of the Church, confirmed in law the breach with Rome – English Catholics were prosecuted, persecuted and penalised for the public expression of their faith. Even after the passing of the emancipation acts Catholics were still the victims of institutionalised discrimination.
The first book to tell the story of the Catholics in Britain in a single volume, The Catholics includes much previously unpublished information. It focuses on the lives, and sometimes deaths, of individual Catholics – martyrs and apostates, priests and laymen, converts and recusants. It tells the story of the men and women who faced the dangers and difficulties of being what their enemies still call ‘Papists’. It describes the laws which circumscribed their lives, the political tensions which influenced their position within an essentially Anglican nation and the changes in dogma and liturgy by which Rome increasingly alienated their Protestant neighbours – and sometime even tested the loyalty of faithful Catholics.
The survival of Catholicism in Britain is the triumph of more than simple faith. It is the victory of moral and spiritual unbending certainty. Catholicism survives because it does not compromise. It is a characteristic that excites admiration in even a hardened atheist.
640 pages, Hardcover
Published June 1, 2017
19 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Roy Hattersley
49 books11 followersRoy Sydney George Hattersley, British Politian and author.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 3, 2020
Very informative for anyone interested in learning more about the history of the Catholic Church. I picked up this book to help understand the events leading up to and after The Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829. I managed to get the information I need; however, I do still have some general criticisms. Although the book says it is about 'People in Britain and Ireland,' it is still mostly centered on England. Some periods are given more attention than others as well, which is understandable in a book as extensive as this; however, there were some more significant gaps in time towards the end. The book is not as linear as I would have liked too. For example, in chapters about 1829, the author would be bringing up new information from the previous century and mentioning how it would affect the century following. It would be challenging to be utterly chronological in a book such as this, but I would have liked to see it a little more ordered because the timeline became confusing at points. Overall, however, it is clear that this book is well researched, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about religious history in the U.K. I also appreciated that the author did not stray away from some of the more controversial subjects involving the Church in recent decades. They are given the attention they need, and it is relevant now more than ever.
February 2, 2021
A very well researched book that illuminates a topic of British political history that is glossed over too readily. This is a history book rather than a theological tract and is all the better for it. I was astonished to see how long the English Parliament retained such anti-Catholic bigoted laws on it statute books. It is amazing that in law a Catholic is still barred from ascending to the British throne.
It would be more accurate to say the book is mostly about Catholicism in England.
I was disappointed that Roy didn't go into the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots since her illegal detention was politically and religiously motivated. And that he said Mary was involved in the murder of her second husband; Lady Antonia Fraser's biography of Mary would beg to differ.
Likewise I expected more on the Irish Famine which devastated the country and clearly there were religious reasons for the indifference shown by the British Parliament to the humanitarian disaster.
I was astounded by the level of bigotry that prevailed against Catholics in Northern Ireland and again the indifference of British politicians, after partition, to tackle the festering sore that finally escalated into the Troubles.
The author was surprisingly restrained on the issue of clerical abuse. Perhaps as a former politician he is more aware of the complexities of the issue in large disperse organisations and is more reserved in passing judgment.
The book is less successful on more recent 'modern' issues that have engaged the Church; same sex unions, re-marriage for divorcees and abortion. The author falls too easily into the lazy assumption that the Church spends too much energy on sexual mores where in truth the Church in the Western World is more often drawn into these controversial issues. The author highlights that the Church has been consistent on these topics for quite a while stretching back to the 1930 encyclical Casti Connubii yet seems to draw the conclusion that the Church should reflect the changes in society and loosen up its opposition to birth control. The author neglects to inform readers of the societal consequences of 'progressive' reforms around birth control, perhaps because as a senior Labour politician he was in the thick of those reforms. The increased fragmentation of families and its knock-on effect on crime, the increase in STDs, the increase in abortion, the increase in lone parents dependent wholly on the state for support would all indicate a failure of Government policies and some truth in the Church's assertions. It is probably the most poorly researched part of the book. In the Bibliography, Roy doesn't list any books by Christopher West, a Catholic convert, who has written extensively about the Church's position on sexuality. Likewise his knock-off remarks about Opus Dei are inaccurate and again there is a very good book by Vatican correspondent John Allen about the organisation that would have enlightened the author.
After 568 pages of exposition I found the 4 page Conclusion rather abrupt. I thought that Hattersley would have summarized the effect Catholicism has had on Britain, its outlook and society, because undoubtedly there is an argument to be made that Brexit is almost a natural conclusion to Britain's ongoing suspicion and hostility of mainland Europe and that perhaps joining the EEC was the aberration in the expanse of British history stretching back to the reformation.
It would be more accurate to say the book is mostly about Catholicism in England.
I was disappointed that Roy didn't go into the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots since her illegal detention was politically and religiously motivated. And that he said Mary was involved in the murder of her second husband; Lady Antonia Fraser's biography of Mary would beg to differ.
Likewise I expected more on the Irish Famine which devastated the country and clearly there were religious reasons for the indifference shown by the British Parliament to the humanitarian disaster.
I was astounded by the level of bigotry that prevailed against Catholics in Northern Ireland and again the indifference of British politicians, after partition, to tackle the festering sore that finally escalated into the Troubles.
The author was surprisingly restrained on the issue of clerical abuse. Perhaps as a former politician he is more aware of the complexities of the issue in large disperse organisations and is more reserved in passing judgment.
The book is less successful on more recent 'modern' issues that have engaged the Church; same sex unions, re-marriage for divorcees and abortion. The author falls too easily into the lazy assumption that the Church spends too much energy on sexual mores where in truth the Church in the Western World is more often drawn into these controversial issues. The author highlights that the Church has been consistent on these topics for quite a while stretching back to the 1930 encyclical Casti Connubii yet seems to draw the conclusion that the Church should reflect the changes in society and loosen up its opposition to birth control. The author neglects to inform readers of the societal consequences of 'progressive' reforms around birth control, perhaps because as a senior Labour politician he was in the thick of those reforms. The increased fragmentation of families and its knock-on effect on crime, the increase in STDs, the increase in abortion, the increase in lone parents dependent wholly on the state for support would all indicate a failure of Government policies and some truth in the Church's assertions. It is probably the most poorly researched part of the book. In the Bibliography, Roy doesn't list any books by Christopher West, a Catholic convert, who has written extensively about the Church's position on sexuality. Likewise his knock-off remarks about Opus Dei are inaccurate and again there is a very good book by Vatican correspondent John Allen about the organisation that would have enlightened the author.
After 568 pages of exposition I found the 4 page Conclusion rather abrupt. I thought that Hattersley would have summarized the effect Catholicism has had on Britain, its outlook and society, because undoubtedly there is an argument to be made that Brexit is almost a natural conclusion to Britain's ongoing suspicion and hostility of mainland Europe and that perhaps joining the EEC was the aberration in the expanse of British history stretching back to the reformation.
February 9, 2018
I purchased this book in London, in a bookstore across the way from Westminster Cathedral. It made a good companion on the way home and ever since. I've had an interest in knowing more about the English Reformation and the consequences for Catholics ever since, so when I saw this book had just been released in the UK I snapped it up.
It is written by Roy Hattersley, a former British politician, and a "hardened atheist" by his own account. Yet he was fascinated with this topic so he wrote this tome (572 pages of text). Not knowing much about the history covered here, it seems to me quite balanced generally but a clear admiration for the Catholic cause overall comes through. This is not to say that he is not critical of some revered figures like Thomas More, John Henry Newman, GK Chesterton, and various cardinals. He also calls out Catholics, in those few years when they were in power, when he disapproved of their actions.
He goes into great detail throughout the book, much of which will be of greater understanding and interest to one who knows better the period. He also takes diversions into Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland which have their own unique histories in this matter. All interesting, though.
He concludes the book with discussions of Vatican II, recent scandals, issues surrounding gay "marriage," immigration, abortion, women's ordination and other hot button issues. His leanings are definitely progressive as he is all for the "spirit" of Vatican II and the liberal cause on all other issues.
That being said, he surprisingly (or maybe not so, considering his sympathy toward Catholics in their centuries of struggle) he finishes the book admiring the moral certainty that sustained Catholics throughout long years of persecution and prejudice. "The world is running away from the Catholic Church...One thing is, however, certain. The Catholic Church still needs members who reject reasonable compromise in favour of what they believe to be incontrovertible truth. They are the heirs to the heroic years..."
Highly recommended.
Read a good interview here: http://catholicherald.co.uk/issues/ap...
It is written by Roy Hattersley, a former British politician, and a "hardened atheist" by his own account. Yet he was fascinated with this topic so he wrote this tome (572 pages of text). Not knowing much about the history covered here, it seems to me quite balanced generally but a clear admiration for the Catholic cause overall comes through. This is not to say that he is not critical of some revered figures like Thomas More, John Henry Newman, GK Chesterton, and various cardinals. He also calls out Catholics, in those few years when they were in power, when he disapproved of their actions.
He goes into great detail throughout the book, much of which will be of greater understanding and interest to one who knows better the period. He also takes diversions into Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland which have their own unique histories in this matter. All interesting, though.
He concludes the book with discussions of Vatican II, recent scandals, issues surrounding gay "marriage," immigration, abortion, women's ordination and other hot button issues. His leanings are definitely progressive as he is all for the "spirit" of Vatican II and the liberal cause on all other issues.
That being said, he surprisingly (or maybe not so, considering his sympathy toward Catholics in their centuries of struggle) he finishes the book admiring the moral certainty that sustained Catholics throughout long years of persecution and prejudice. "The world is running away from the Catholic Church...One thing is, however, certain. The Catholic Church still needs members who reject reasonable compromise in favour of what they believe to be incontrovertible truth. They are the heirs to the heroic years..."
Highly recommended.
Read a good interview here: http://catholicherald.co.uk/issues/ap...
August 27, 2025
I really enjoyed The Catholics: The Church and its People in Britain and Ireland, from the Reformation to the Present Day. It’s a big subject, but the book does a great job of making it approachable without ever dumbing things down. Instead of just listing dates and events, it brings out the personal stories, the struggles, and the resilience of ordinary Catholics living through huge changes over the centuries.
What I liked most is that it balances the “big picture” history with human detail—you get the politics, the conflicts, and the church decisions, but you also get a sense of what it actually felt like to live as a Catholic during tough times, whether under suspicion, discrimination, or rapid change. It really highlights how communities held on to their faith and adapted, generation after generation.
It’s well-researched, but it doesn’t read like a dry academic book. The writing is clear, engaging, and has a nice flow. If you’re interested in history, religion, or just the way people find meaning and identity through tradition, this book is well worth picking up.
Damian North.
Author
What I liked most is that it balances the “big picture” history with human detail—you get the politics, the conflicts, and the church decisions, but you also get a sense of what it actually felt like to live as a Catholic during tough times, whether under suspicion, discrimination, or rapid change. It really highlights how communities held on to their faith and adapted, generation after generation.
It’s well-researched, but it doesn’t read like a dry academic book. The writing is clear, engaging, and has a nice flow. If you’re interested in history, religion, or just the way people find meaning and identity through tradition, this book is well worth picking up.
Damian North.
Author
December 24, 2017
I don't really know what to say about this book. I received it as a present, and as soon as I read the author's name I knew there was going to be a political spin on this. It would be better renamed '...in England (with occasional reference to Scotland, a mention of Ireland/Northern Ireland, and what is Wales?)' Chooses some rather strange stuff to focus on (although does a good job of highlighting some stuff which is generally glanced over), and ignores most things which paint Catholics in a bad light. Some inaccuracies with regards to Scottish history, but couldn't really expect much more from a English MP
July 21, 2023
Early chapters were good but chapters on 19th century and the Catholic Relief Act were poor as not clearly written
As a British politician of the left Hattersley should have mentioned that UK remains the only country of the Western liberal democracies to still have Religious discrimination law - against Roman Catholics
As a British politician of the left Hattersley should have mentioned that UK remains the only country of the Western liberal democracies to still have Religious discrimination law - against Roman Catholics
August 18, 2019
Interesting read; lots of history I'm relatively familiar with (Reformation etc.); lots of the subsequent story of Catholics in the UK that is new to me. The oppression of Catholics in Ireland is a huge scandal in British history, that I had not known the full extent of.
September 20, 2022
Insightful history of Catholicism from the reformation to modern times. As a practising Catholic there were bits that I already knew about but it was interesting following the course of Catholicism through the years.
April 3, 2023
Interesting history of catholicism in Great Britain and Ireland, written from a secular perspective.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews