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Preface

Not only for the sociologist but also for the church historian the microcosm of the sect has special value. Factors and trends too complicated to be easily discerned in the great and ancient communions stand out sharply in the select society. In the study of the three movements which are the subject of this thesis, the Church of the Nazarene in Britain, the International Holiness Mission and the Calvary Holiness Church, causes of division can be learned afresh, familiar patterns of faith and order emerge, the evolution of the sect into a denomination and towards a church takes place, but with particular modifications which warn us not to make our categories nor our rules of development too rigid, and the desire for unity, given momentum by the pressure of internal and environmental forces, bears fruit in their uniting in a larger denomination.

The history of these three movements is drawn from primary sources and fully annotated. Their origin is traced back to the British Holiness Movement of the latter part of the nineteenth century, which is shown to owe a real debt to the American Holiness Movement. Their faith and church order is analysed, their attitude to the world indicated and explained and the doctrine of Holiness to which they give special emphasis is defined and discussed, with special reference to John Wesley's teaching of entire sanctification. An attempt is made to compare their belief in Holiness and its expression in church life and towards the world with movements and individuals in Christian history holding a similar belief. A short summary of conclusions is given concerning factors in their origin and features in their development. Criticisms of their doctrine are considered and its value is indicated, and suggestions are made concerning their contribution to society and to the Church.

- J. Ford