Beth Allison Barr, Author at Beth Allison Barr

Book Reviews Church History Medieval History Uncategorized

A Reasonable Reading List for Medieval Christianity: Part 1

If, after my last post "Did Medieval Christians Know Jesus?," you realized you had no framework for understanding the Investiture Controversy, Fourth Lateran Council, or even transubstantiation; or, while eating a stack of pancakes for dinner last Tuesday (Fat Tuesday), you realized you had no…

Beth Allison BarrMarch 8, 2017

Activism American Religion Articles & Essays Featured Papers & Presentations Women's History

Margaret Mead: Christian, Pro-life Feminist

Today we are pleased to welcome Elesha Coffman to the Anxious Bench. Elesha is an Assistant Professor of History at Baylor University. Her first book, The Christian Century and the Rise of the Protestant Mainline, was published by Oxford UP in 2013 and her current…

Beth Allison BarrMarch 1, 2017

American Religion British History Church History Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Medieval History

Did Medieval Christians Know Jesus?

St. Peter's Basilica, Rome Recently I was made aware of an online church history curriculum. At first glance, it seemed promising (at least from my perspective as a medievalist). It dedicated two weeks to the Medieval Church (five if you include the three weeks of…

Beth Allison BarrFebruary 22, 2017

Articles & Essays Church History Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Featured

Dance and the Church: A History More Complicated than Footloose…

Today we are pleased to welcome Lynneth Miller to the Anxious Bench. Lynneth is a PhD candidate in the Baylor History department specializing in British and Women’s History. She holds an MLitt from St. Andrews and is writing a dissertation on Dance and the Church…

Beth Allison BarrFebruary 8, 2017

#ChurchToo Activism American Religion British History Christian Patriarchy Church History Complimentarianism Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Medieval History

A Tale of Two Pastors: Mark Driscoll and A (Medieval) New Year’s Proposal for the 2017 Church

This is a story of two pastors. The first was a vicar in the deanery of Salisbury, England, in 1412. His name was Alexander Champion. He was accused of abusing his ecclesiastical authority by sexually exploiting the women in his care. His parishioners claimed he…

Beth Allison BarrDecember 28, 2016

British History Church History Featured Medieval History

Because Xmas really is Xpian…

I literally stumbled across St. Bride’s church in London this summer. Walking down Fleet Street toward St. Paul’s Cathedral, I was considering eating at Ye Olde Chesire Cheese when I looked up and saw the wedding cake spire designed by Christopher Wren. It wasn’t until…

Beth Allison BarrDecember 17, 2016

British History Church History Medieval History

The Peace of Christmas during the Pain of Life

St. Alkmund’s, Shrewsbury, Shropshire In the far west of England, almost to Wales, the medieval spire of St. Alkmund’s parish church reaches high above the old city of Shrewsbury. One “vane” of A.E. Housman’s immortal line: “High the vanes of Shrewsbury gleam islanded in Severn…

Beth Allison BarrDecember 14, 2016

American Religion Church History Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Medieval History

Bringing the Spirit of (Medieval) Santa Back to Christmas

Every Christmas in the yard of a house not far from us stands a manger scene. The Christ Child rocks gently in his small white wooden manger; his halo glowing from the spotlight. Instead of Mary and Joseph gazing at their holy infant, or even…

Beth Allison BarrNovember 30, 2016

American Religion British History Church History Contemporary Connections Evangelicalism Medieval History

When Churches Fail

In Eastcheap, near Fenchurch St. in London, stands the medieval church of St. Margaret Pattens. Founded in 1067 and rebuilt by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666, it slowly lost its congregation. It was closed as a parish church in 1952—more than 900…

Beth Allison BarrNovember 16, 2016

Academia Featured Higher Education Professional Development

For Graduate Students Wanting Excellent Job Recommendations (and because I am trying to not think about the election…)

I submitted eight letters of recommendation this morning. I submitted three over the weekend, and have about eight more to submit by November 15.Writing student recommendations for graduate school, for grants and fellowships, and for jobs is part of my job as a tenured professor.…

Beth Allison BarrNovember 2, 2016

Beth Allison Barr