Establishment and liberalism: A response to Nigel Biggar

Abstract

This is a response to a recent article by Nigel Biggar defending the establishment of the Church of England. Biggar’s central claim is that establishment need not offend against liberal values. To some extent he is right, for ‘liberalism’ is large and flexible. Yet this article argues that the most coherent theological case for disestablishment is rooted in a particular theological account of liberalism. Establishment may or may not offend against ‘liberalism’: it does offend against liberal Christianity.