The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy and theology. It was also known as the Tractarian Movement after its series of publications Tracts for the Times, published between 1833 and 1841.
The Oxford Movement was attacked for being a mere “Romanising” tendency, but it began to have an influence on the theory and practice of Anglicanism. It resulted in the establishment of Anglican religious orders, both of men and women. It incorporated ideas and practices related to the practice of liturgy and ceremony in a move to bring more powerful emotional symbolism and energy to the church. Its effects were so widespread that the Eucharist gradually became more central to worship, vestments became common, and numerous Roman Catholic practices were re-introduced into worship.
Partly because bishops refused to give livings to Tractarian priests, many of them ended up working in the slums. From their new ministries they developed a critique of British social policy, both local and national. One of the upshots was the establishment of the Christian Social Union, of which a number of bishops were members, where issues such as the just wage, the system of property renting, infant mortality and industrial conditions were debated.
The Christian Social Union eventually merged into the Industrial Christian Fellowship.
THE ICF PRAYER
God the Creator, bless me in the things that I do today.
God the Spirit, guide me in the things that I think and plan today.
God the Redeemer, forgive and make good the things that I might spoil today.
In all my work may I find you with me,
and look to the day when all things will be made new
in what you have yet to create in your wisdom and boundless love.