Religion

Before the mid-1800s many Americans did not dream of Christmas at all. Penne Restad tells how and why this changed – and played its role in uniting the US in social cohesion.

David Nash considers a cause celebre that tested tensions between pious tradition and a 'progressive' age.

Richard Wilkinson wonders why historians have accepted the Cardinal's extravagant assessment of himself.

Andrew Boyd offers a bicentennial analysis of a key element in the culture of Protestant Ulster.

Centenary celebrations of the building of Westminster Cathedral

William Makin investigates an evil organisation, accomplice of a bigoted, racist and corrupt monarchy.

Andrew Martindale explains why Renaissance Sienese doctored the history of a 12th-century papacy when decorating their new city hall.

The way in which the church commemoration of King Charles I's 1649 execution became a potent instrument in the political war of words after the Restoration is examined, and the history of the king's execution and the clergy's promotion of the event are discussed.

How did Hollywood screenwriter Frank Capra get involved in the sort of film projects that in his and other hands filled a generation of American servicemen with a fundamentalist world view? James Gilbert offers an explanation.

Has our image of Henry VIII's elder daughter as 'Bloody Mary', burning Protestants and unhappily married to Philip of Spain, clouded our assessment of how close she came to restoring the old religion?