Church of England plans to bring back Victorian notion of ‘muscular Christianity’ by using sport to swell congregations
by Steve Doughty, Mailonline:
The Church of England is to resurrect the Victorian idea of ‘muscular Christianity’ and use sport as a way of filling its pews.
It yesterday announced plans to hire ‘sports ministers’ and fund sports clubs ‘to reach people who may never have been to church before’.
‘Muscular Christianity’ was popular in the 19th century and holds that physical exercise contributes to moral health as well as fitness.
But it fell out of favour because of its links with imperialism.
Now the Church is to spend £2million in Norfolk setting up ten sports churches, running football, netball and fitness groups plus holiday clubs for schoolchildren.
It will also fund a boxing club in Anerley, south-east London, in the hope of keeping youngsters away from crime.
The programme is seen as ‘a blueprint for dioceses interested in promoting the Christian faith through sports’.
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