Town and Country Sermons

"Town and Country Sermons" by Charles Kingsley is a collection of sermons written in the mid-19th century. This work reflects Kingsley’s insights and teachings, primarily focusing on Christian faith, moral conduct, and the significance of obedience to God—particularly as articulated in the context of Passion Week. The opening portion of the book presents the first sermon, which addresses the concept of how to observe Passion Week through a lens of humility, selflessness, and service, mirroring the life of Christ. Kingsley emphasizes the necessity of embodying the "mind of Christ"—that is, to prioritize obedience and self-sacrifice over personal gain. He cautions against ritualistic worship that lacks genuine intention and encourages active engagement in good deeds as the highest form of faith. The sermon serves as both a philosophical reflection and a moral guide, urging the readers to consider their intentions in worship and encourage a lifestyle reflecting Christ's values in their everyday roles and responsibilities. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Kingsley was a broad church priest of the Church of England, a university professor, social reformer, historian, novelist and poet. He is particularly associated with Christian socialism, the working men's college, and forming labour cooperatives, which failed, but encouraged later working reforms.