Grace Thompson
Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 until her death in 1901, was a pious Lutheran with Protestant sensibilities. She was not actively intolerant of other faiths, but her role as Head of the Church of England led her to campaign for the reform of the Anglican Church. She supported the Public Worship Regulation Act of 1874, which removed Catholic rituals from the Anglican liturgy. In 1887, Victoria caused controversy by favouring her personal servant from India, Abdul Karim, who was promoted to the position of Munshi or teacher. She also supported a grant to a Roman Catholic seminary in Ireland during the Great Famine, despite Protestant opposition. While the extent of Queen Victoria's employment of Catholic servants is unclear, her interest in other religions and support for religious freedom suggest that she may have been open to employing individuals from different religious backgrounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religious views | Pious Lutheran, Protestant sensibilities, not actively intolerant of other faiths |
| Religion's role in her reign | Supported the Maynooth Grant to a Roman Catholic seminary in Ireland, despite Protestant opposition |
| Religious tolerance | Supported the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874, which removed Catholic rituals from the Anglican liturgy |
| Religious interest | Interested in the religion of all with whom she interacted, showing concern for humble as well as scholarly godliness |
| Religious servants | Had a Congregationalist minister conduct a funeral service for one of her servants |
| Non-Christian faiths in England | Judaism was the only substantial non-Christian faith in England during the Victorian era |
| Catholic servants | Queen Victoria had at least one Catholic servant, as she learned Hindustani to speak to her servants |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Victoria's support for the Maynooth Grant
Queen Victoria was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Her reign constituted the Victorian era, a period of industrial, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, and was marked by a significant expansion of the British Empire.
In 1845, Ireland was hit by a potato blight, resulting in the deaths of over a million people and the emigration of another million in what became known as the Great Famine. During this time, Queen Victoria supported the Maynooth Grant, despite facing opposition from Protestants.
The Maynooth Grant was a cash grant from the British government to St Patrick's College, Maynooth, a Catholic seminary in Ireland. The grant was proposed by Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, who aimed to improve relations between Catholic Ireland and Protestant Britain by increasing the annual grant to the seminary, which was in a dilapidated state. The proposal included raising the grant from under £10,000 to over £26,000, making it permanent, and providing an additional £30,000 for repairs.
The Maynooth Grant sparked a major political controversy in the 1840s, reflecting the anti-Irish and anti-Catholic sentiments prevalent among British Protestants. The debate surrounding the grant led to one of the most divisive political and religious agitations of the century. Opponents of the grant, including the \"Voluntaryists,\" argued that it was inappropriate, unnecessary, and potentially dangerous for a Protestant state to fund a Catholic institution. They demanded an end to all government grants to private educational institutions.
Despite the opposition, Queen Victoria's support for the Maynooth Grant demonstrated her commitment to religious tolerance and her desire to improve relations between Britain and Ireland during a time of crisis.
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Her campaign to reform the Anglican Church
Queen Victoria's campaign to reform the Anglican Church was influenced by her desire to surpass the efforts of Otto von Bismarck, who initiated a campaign against the Catholic Church in Germany in 1871 after becoming Chancellor of the German Empire. As a devout Lutheran, Victoria possessed strong Protestant leanings, and while she was not overtly intolerant of other faiths, she was fervent in her belief that her position as Head of the Church of England should be utilised for what she deemed to be the improvement of Anglican worship practices. She favoured simplicity in churches and eschewed formalities and High Church rituals.
Victoria's actions in this regard included taking the sacrament of Holy Eucharist at a simple Scottish church, Crathie Kirk, on November 3, 1873, which offended many High Church Anglicans, including the Archbishop of Canterbury. Additionally, she actively supported the Public Worship Regulation Act of 1874, enacted by Disraeli during his second term as Prime Minister, which aimed to remove Catholic rituals from the Anglican liturgy.
The Victorian era witnessed a significant shift in the religious landscape of England, with the Church of England becoming just one facet of a dynamic and often competitive religious culture. This period experienced the most substantial wave of church construction since the Middle Ages, reflecting the emergence of new Protestant denominations that gained prominence alongside the Anglican Church.
Victoria's religious convictions extended beyond her role as Head of the Church of England, influencing her approach to governance and foreign policy. For instance, despite Protestant opposition, she supported the Maynooth Grant to a Roman Catholic seminary in Ireland during the Great Famine, demonstrating a willingness to extend support across religious boundaries in times of crisis. Furthermore, she took an interest in the religious practices of her servants, such as requesting the minister of the Congregational Church to conduct a funeral service for one of her servants who was a member of that congregation.
In summary, Queen Victoria's campaign to reform the Anglican Church was driven by her Protestant beliefs and her interpretation of the role of the Head of the Church of England. Her actions, including supporting legislation to remove Catholic rituals and promoting simplicity in worship, reflected her desire to shape Anglican practices. This occurred during a period of increasing religious diversity and competition in England, with the Church of England facing new challenges and adaptations.
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Her servants, John Brown and Abdul Karim
Queen Victoria, who was a pious Lutheran and a zealous Protestant, had two servants who played a significant role in her life: John Brown and Abdul Karim.
John Brown
John Brown, a Scotsman, was Queen Victoria's favourite servant and confidant. He served her for 34 years and was by her side when she needed support after the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861. Brown was a "gillie" or "gillie", a term used for a male attendant in Scotland. He was also Prince Albert's gillie before becoming the Queen's permanent attendant in 1851. Victoria was known to bestow many gifts upon him, including the Faithful Servant Medal and the Devoted Service Medal, and even created two medals for him. She also commissioned a portrait of him in 1876, which she gave to him on Albert's birthday.
The high regard in which Victoria held Brown caused rumours and displeasure within the royal family and court. Many believed that their relationship was improper, and some even referred to her as "Mrs. Brown". However, there is no evidence that they were lovers. When Brown died in 1883, Victoria mourned him deeply, and until her own death, she placed a flower on his pillow every morning. She also buried him with several mementos, including a lock of his hair and his mother's wedding ring, which he had given to her.
Abdul Karim
Mohammed Abdul Karim, also known as "the Munshi" ("teacher"), was an Indian attendant of Queen Victoria. He served her during the final 14 years of her reign, becoming her most trusted confidant. Karim was born in 1863 in Lalitpur, near Jhansi in British India, and was the son of a hospital assistant. In 1887, during the celebration of Victoria's Golden Jubilee, he was one of two Indians selected to become servants to the Queen. Victoria grew fond of him and appointed him as her Indian Secretary. She showered him with honours and obtained a land grant for him in India.
The close platonic relationship between Victoria and Karim caused friction within the Royal Household, as other members felt superior to him. The Queen insisted on taking him with her on her travels, which led to arguments with her other attendants. After Victoria's death in 1901, her children burned all her letters to Karim and deported him back to India. However, his diary survived, providing a record of their relationship.
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Her support for Disraeli's Public Worship Regulation Act 1874
Queen Victoria, who was a pious Lutheran, was keenly Protestant in her sensibilities. She was not actively intolerant of other faiths, but she was zealous about her position as Head of the Church of England and believed it should be used for the betterment of Anglican worship practices. She preferred simplicity in churches and did not like formalities and High Church rituals.
In 1874, Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister after winning the general election. He passed the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874, which removed Catholic rituals from the Anglican liturgy. The Act was introduced as a Private Member's Bill by Archbishop of Canterbury Archibald Campbell Tait to limit the growing ritualism of Anglo-Catholicism and the Oxford Movement within the Church of England.
The Act received Royal Assent and Queen Victoria's strong support. Disraeli charmed the Queen and often flattered her, which she enjoyed. She respected his dedication to the country despite their differences. Victoria's support for Disraeli's policies led to the acquisition of new territories, and she was named Empress of India in 1876.
The Public Worship Regulation Act was given government backing by Disraeli, who referred to the practices of the Oxford Movement as "a Mass in masquerade". The Act was controversial and vigorously opposed by Liberal Party leader William Ewart Gladstone. Disraeli's Cabinet was divided on the issue, with both High Churchmen and Low Churchmen among its members. The law was seldom enforced, but it caused embarrassment to the Church of England archbishops when several clergymen were imprisoned for contempt of court.
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Her interest in the religion of those around her
Queen Victoria was interested in the religions of those around her, including her servants. When one of her servants died at Windsor, she sent for the minister of the Congregational Church, of which the woman had been a member, and asked him to conduct a funeral service in the porch before the body was sent away for burial, and she herself was present.
Victoria was a pious Lutheran and a keen Protestant in her sensibilities. She was not actively intolerant of other faiths, but she was zealous about her position as Head of the Church of England and believed it should be employed for what she considered the betterment of Anglican worship practices. She preferred simplicity in churches and did not like formalities and High Church rituals. She offended many High Church Anglicans, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, by taking the sacrament of Holy Eucharist at a simple, Scottish church called Crathie Kirk, on 3 November 1873.
During her reign, the Church of England became only one part of a vibrant and often competitive religious culture, with non-Anglican Protestant denominations enjoying a new prominence. The Victorian period saw the greatest burst of church building since the Middle Ages. Victoria supported the Maynooth Grant to a Roman Catholic seminary in Ireland, despite Protestant opposition.
Victoria was also interested in the languages and cultures of her servants. She took an interest in learning Hindustani to speak to her Indian servants, and she learned some Urdu from her servant, Abdul Karim. She also admired Karim's strong faith, writing, "Such faith as theirs & such conscientiousness set us a g[rea]t example."
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Frequently asked questions
Queen Victoria was a devout Protestant and supported the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874, which removed Catholic rituals from the Anglican liturgy. However, she was interested in the religions of those around her and showed concern for their spiritual well-being. While it is not certain if she employed Catholic servants, she did employ a Hindu servant, Mohammed Abdul Karim, who taught her Urdu. She also employed a Scotsman, John Brown, who was a "Highland servant".
Queen Victoria's favourite servant was John Brown, a Scotsman who became a close friend and confidant after the death of her husband, Albert. She also grew very fond of her Indian attendant, Mohammed Abdul Karim, who served her during the final 14 years of her reign.
Queen Victoria was zealous about her position as Head of the Church of England and was keen to use it to improve Anglican worship practices. She supported the removal of Catholic rituals from the Anglican liturgy and her campaign to reform the Anglican Church was influenced by her desire to outdo Otto von Bismarck's campaign against the Catholic Church in Germany.
