Early Life
On September 7th, Anglicans remember the life of Hannah More. Born in Bristol in 1745, Hannah lived in western England most of her life. Because Hannah lived during both the American and French Revolutions, her time was one of great social unrest. While she taught at a school founded by her father in her young adulthood, she eventually began writing plays.
Cheap Repository Tracts
In the 1790’s Hannah began writing Cheap Repository Tracts written for the literate poor which contained moral and religious lessons. She meant for these to combat the:
‘corrupt and vicious little books and ballads which have been hung out of windows in the most alluring forms or hawked through town and country.’
Sunday Schools
During this same period, More poured herself into promoting Sunday Schools. Sunday Schools were a response to conditions among the working poor, of which More said:
“… we found more than 2,000 people in the parish, almost all very poor—no gentry, a dozen wealthy farmers, bard, brutal and ignorant.. . . We went to every house in the place, and found every house a scene of the greatest vice and ignorance. We saw but one Bible in all the parish, and that was used to prop a flower-pot. No clergyman had resided in it for forty years. One rode over from Wells to preach once each Sunday. No sick were visited, and children were often buried without any funeral service.” (from H. Thompson, (1838) Life of Hannah More quoted by Young and Ashton 1956: 237-8)
Hannah believed that the lack of religious and moral teaching, in addition to socio-economic factors, was diminishing the quality of life among the poor.
Abolitionist Contributions
More also contributed significantly, alongside acquaintances like William Wilberforce, to the abolitionist movement in England. She wrote anti-slavery poetry, organized a boycott of sugar made with slave labor, and wrote many letters to friends who supported the slave trade in the hopes of changing their minds.
End of Life
Hannah More died on September 7th, 1833, leaving much of her wealth to a number of charitable causes. In conclusion, Hannah More’s life leaves us at least three great reminders:
First, Hannah More reminds us of the important ministry and calling of the laity in the Church. During a time when the clergy were slow to respond to the needs of the times, Hannah More embraced her calling to seek and serve the lost. She reminds us that the laity just as much as the clergy of the Church are called to be saints.
Second, More reminds us of the importance of catechesis, discipleship, and formation. In her tracts and work with Sunday Schools, she recognized that catechesis, discipleship, and formation not only enriches the lives of Christians- it also provides a rootedness that allows Christians to endure the tumults of our times.
Third, in her work among the poor and in her abolitionist efforts, More reminds us that while we should never reduce the Gospel to mere social reform, that the Gospel nevertheless has the power to transform our culture and society. She also understood that the Church accomplishes this chiefly through the transformation of hearts and minds in conformity with the heart and mind of Christ.
A Collect of a Renewer of Society
And so we pray:
Almighty and everlasting God, you kindled the flame of your love in the heart of your servant Hannah More to manifest your compassion and mercy to the poor and the persecuted: Grant to us, your humble servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who give thanks for her righteous zeal may profit by her example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Leave a Reply