Impact of the Oxford movement
"They have, indeed, already made fearful progress in different parts of the
country, and, as before stated, are now making rapid progress where they were
before unknown. One of the largest churches in Brighton is crowded every Sunday
to hear those doctrines preached by the Rev. Mr. Anderson; so is the church of
Dr. Hook, in Leeds. In fact, there are few towns of note to which they have not
extended; nay, they have even reached obscure and insignificant places in the
remotest parts of the kingdom. They are preached in small towns in Scotland.
They obtain in Elginshire, which is 600 miles north of London; and I found them
myself in the heart of the Highlands of Scotland, when travelling there three
months ago … Nor are they confined to mere churches and chapels of ease. As
before remarked, they are advocated in the newspaper and periodical press. The
Morning Post sustains the character of their apologist in London; and the
Liverpool Mail, the Coventry Herald, and other journals identify themselves with
them in the country. The Oxford Tract doctrines have even insinuated themselves
into the House of Commons. There is, at least, one county member in the centre
of England, who cherishes them with more than a parental affection, and who is
most zealous in his efforts to inoculate others with them."
"From beginnings so small," I said, "from elements of thought so fortuitous, with prospects so unpromising, the Anglo-Catholic party suddenly became a power in the National Church, and an object of alarm to her rulers and friends. Its originators would have found it difficult to say what they aimed at of a practical kind: rather, they put forth views and principles for their own sake, because they were true, as if they were obliged to say them; and, as they might be themselves surprised at their earnestness in uttering them, they had as great cause to be surprised at the success which attended their propagation. And, in fact, they could only say that those doctrines were in the air; that to assert was to prove, and that to explain was to persuade; and that the Movement in which they were taking part was the birth of a crisis rather than of a place. In a very few years a school of opinion was formed, fixed in its principles, indefinite and progressive in their range; and it extended itself into every part of the country. If we inquire what the world thought of it, we have still more to raise our wonder; for, not to mention the excitement it caused in England, the Movement and its party-names were known to the police of Italy and to the back-woodmen of America. And so it proceeded, getting stronger and stronger every year, till it came into collision with the Nation, and that Church of the Nation, which it began by professing especially to serve."
http://www.newmanreader.org/works/apologia65/chapter2.html
country, and, as before stated, are now making rapid progress where they were
before unknown. One of the largest churches in Brighton is crowded every Sunday
to hear those doctrines preached by the Rev. Mr. Anderson; so is the church of
Dr. Hook, in Leeds. In fact, there are few towns of note to which they have not
extended; nay, they have even reached obscure and insignificant places in the
remotest parts of the kingdom. They are preached in small towns in Scotland.
They obtain in Elginshire, which is 600 miles north of London; and I found them
myself in the heart of the Highlands of Scotland, when travelling there three
months ago … Nor are they confined to mere churches and chapels of ease. As
before remarked, they are advocated in the newspaper and periodical press. The
Morning Post sustains the character of their apologist in London; and the
Liverpool Mail, the Coventry Herald, and other journals identify themselves with
them in the country. The Oxford Tract doctrines have even insinuated themselves
into the House of Commons. There is, at least, one county member in the centre
of England, who cherishes them with more than a parental affection, and who is
most zealous in his efforts to inoculate others with them."
James Grant, Travels in Town; cited in JHN State of Religious Parties http://www.newmanreader.org/works/essays/volume1/prospects.html
And in Newman's own words:
I have spoken of the doings of these years, since I was a Catholic, in a passage, part of which I will here quote:"From beginnings so small," I said, "from elements of thought so fortuitous, with prospects so unpromising, the Anglo-Catholic party suddenly became a power in the National Church, and an object of alarm to her rulers and friends. Its originators would have found it difficult to say what they aimed at of a practical kind: rather, they put forth views and principles for their own sake, because they were true, as if they were obliged to say them; and, as they might be themselves surprised at their earnestness in uttering them, they had as great cause to be surprised at the success which attended their propagation. And, in fact, they could only say that those doctrines were in the air; that to assert was to prove, and that to explain was to persuade; and that the Movement in which they were taking part was the birth of a crisis rather than of a place. In a very few years a school of opinion was formed, fixed in its principles, indefinite and progressive in their range; and it extended itself into every part of the country. If we inquire what the world thought of it, we have still more to raise our wonder; for, not to mention the excitement it caused in England, the Movement and its party-names were known to the police of Italy and to the back-woodmen of America. And so it proceeded, getting stronger and stronger every year, till it came into collision with the Nation, and that Church of the Nation, which it began by professing especially to serve."
http://www.newmanreader.org/works/apologia65/chapter2.html
[Roger]