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The Penguin History of the Church #7
The Christian Church in the Cold War
From the end of the Second World War until the rise of Gorbachev, the churches in the two halves of a divided Europe might have been living in different worlds. . . .
Almost all had to adapt to declining congregations, new concerns about women’s role in religion, and changing attitudes to abortion, contraception, and divorce. Yet the Eastern churches, undermined by state control, savage ideological attacks, show trials, and sometimes physical violence, still managed to support resistance movements, for example, the Polish priests who supported Solidarity. In the West, by contrast, tradition—the great monastic orders, the language of the liturgy, pilgrimages to saints’ shrines—was weakened by the fierce winds of secularization; only the charismatic movement proved astonishingly successful. All this is surveyed in the concluding volume of the Penguin History of the Church. The series starts with the first Disciples; it ends in the late twentieth century—with Christians struggling to face up to fresh global challenges and opportunities.
“The editor of the series, Owen Chadwick, the distinguished Cambridge historian, did well to reserve this volume for himself, lending to it the wisdom of his years and an aura of academic detachment. . . . Consistently, he brings to light material which well-informed readers will have missed.”—Michael Novak, The Times
“Dr. Chadwick’s concise narrative ought to enlarge the knowledge and sympathy of many.”—David L. Edwards, Church Times
“Chadwick in his usual engaging style combines fast-moving narrative with dazzling portraits”—Peter Hebblethwaite, The Time Literary Supplement
Almost all had to adapt to declining congregations, new concerns about women’s role in religion, and changing attitudes to abortion, contraception, and divorce. Yet the Eastern churches, undermined by state control, savage ideological attacks, show trials, and sometimes physical violence, still managed to support resistance movements, for example, the Polish priests who supported Solidarity. In the West, by contrast, tradition—the great monastic orders, the language of the liturgy, pilgrimages to saints’ shrines—was weakened by the fierce winds of secularization; only the charismatic movement proved astonishingly successful. All this is surveyed in the concluding volume of the Penguin History of the Church. The series starts with the first Disciples; it ends in the late twentieth century—with Christians struggling to face up to fresh global challenges and opportunities.
“The editor of the series, Owen Chadwick, the distinguished Cambridge historian, did well to reserve this volume for himself, lending to it the wisdom of his years and an aura of academic detachment. . . . Consistently, he brings to light material which well-informed readers will have missed.”—Michael Novak, The Times
“Dr. Chadwick’s concise narrative ought to enlarge the knowledge and sympathy of many.”—David L. Edwards, Church Times
“Chadwick in his usual engaging style combines fast-moving narrative with dazzling portraits”—Peter Hebblethwaite, The Time Literary Supplement
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 1993
About the author
Owen Chadwick
61 books8 followersWilliam Owen Chadwick, OM, KBE, FBA, FRSE, was a British Anglican clergyman, academic, writer and prominent historian of Christianity. He was also a rugby union player. He was Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge, from 1956 to 1983, Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History from 1958 to 1968, and Regius Professor of History from 1968 to 1983.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 3, 2026
Owen Chadwick's The Christian Church in the Cold War is split into two sections. Each one of these sections focuses on both sides of the Iron Curtain in East and West Europe. The book offers a more nuanced view of Christianity in the Cold War. In Eastern Europe, there was a concerted effort to end religion by the Communists, but open attacks on Christianity were by and large avoided Communists.
Another interesting thing is how different Christians tried to respond to the Communist regimes. Protestants tend to be better at adapting to the Communist East on the whole due to the Christian Socialist tendencies (page 36). There was still violence against Christians but mainly found in Albania. The intriguing Pax movement in Poland led by Count Piasecki attempted to blend Catholicism and Communism (page 42).
Catholicism started out hostile towards Communism but gradually softened particularly after Vatican II. What I did find to be a problem with the book is that there is no mention of Christianity outside of Europe. There is no mention of Liberation Theology or CIA Evangelical pscyhops.
The book gives an investigative look into how Communism interacted with religion and how it attempted to create alternative movements including creating "atheist clubs" and appropriating Christian holidays. Another fascinating feature was the lengths Christians attempted to get Bibles in the Eastern Bloc. Russian Baptists created their own printing press using an electric motor from a washing machine and ink made from rubber boots and moss (page 87)!
There is a suggested further reading section but unfortunately there isn't a bibliography. That said, the book gives a good overview of Christianity in Cold War Europe.
Another interesting thing is how different Christians tried to respond to the Communist regimes. Protestants tend to be better at adapting to the Communist East on the whole due to the Christian Socialist tendencies (page 36). There was still violence against Christians but mainly found in Albania. The intriguing Pax movement in Poland led by Count Piasecki attempted to blend Catholicism and Communism (page 42).
Catholicism started out hostile towards Communism but gradually softened particularly after Vatican II. What I did find to be a problem with the book is that there is no mention of Christianity outside of Europe. There is no mention of Liberation Theology or CIA Evangelical pscyhops.
The book gives an investigative look into how Communism interacted with religion and how it attempted to create alternative movements including creating "atheist clubs" and appropriating Christian holidays. Another fascinating feature was the lengths Christians attempted to get Bibles in the Eastern Bloc. Russian Baptists created their own printing press using an electric motor from a washing machine and ink made from rubber boots and moss (page 87)!
There is a suggested further reading section but unfortunately there isn't a bibliography. That said, the book gives a good overview of Christianity in Cold War Europe.
June 9, 2022
Far too schematic, and far too much a history of stuff in the cold war, rather than the church in the cold war, at least in the 'Eastern Europe' section. That's fine; even Homer nods, and Chadwick doesn't have many duds in his collection.
April 3, 2025
Nice overview of the main events and topics. Anyone know of an in-depth treatment?
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews