The Oxford movement studies: Main historiographical problems and trends

Abstract

The article analyzes the main trends in the historiography of the Oxford (Traсtarian) movement in the Church of England, which had a significant impact not only on its subsequent development, but also on the evolution of Anglicanism as a whole. The purpose of the article is to identify the key trends in the development of the historiography of the Oxford movement and to distinguish the range of problems studied by researchers, focusing on the most controversial issues. The article aims to analyze the works of the authors who reviewed the history of the Oxford movement in the context of the evolution of the Church of England (N. Gash, O. Chadwick, P. Avis, S. Brown), and researchers who focused on the phenomenon of Tractarianism itself (M. O’Connell, J. Griffin, J. Rowlands, P. Nockles, J. Pereiro, G. Herring). The authors of the article used problem-chronological and comparative methods, which allow for the presentation of the main historiographical achievements in their dynamic development. It can be concluded that the confessionalism expressed in the representation of the Tractarian leaders either as “saviors” of the Church of England, or as “traitors” who sought to bring it into the bosom of the Roman Catholic Church, has been completely overcome. A significant research consensus was reached on issues such as the date of the movement’s origin, its revolutionary nature and connection with the High Church tradition, and the importance of the influence of Tractarianism on the subsequent evolution of Anglicanism. Issues such as the relationship of Tractarianism with the Ritualists movement remains debatable. Further prospects for the study of the Oxford movement primarily concern the study of its perception by British society, and investigation of its international dimension (in particular, Russian).