Saints and Heroes: Inspiring politics

By Frank Field

Every politician needs inspiration and ideals in this cynical age. Frank Field's Anglican faith provides his inspiration, and a foundation for a set of ideals known as English Idealism, put forward by T. H. Green. These ideals built on Christianity to form a widely shared public ideology. As a leading politician and churchman, Field illustrates such ideals through the life and work of six people who have inspired him in his political career.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SPCK
• Release date: Sep 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9780281065578

Frank Field

The Rt Hon Frank Field MP was formerly Minister for Welfare Reform in Tony Blair's first government. He is the author of a number of books and other publications, including Neighbours from Hell (Politicos).

Book preview

Part 1

THE TEMPLE FAMILY

Introduction

Why do I begin with Frederick Temple and why do I regard him more highly than his son William? Most people might argue that William was the ‘greater man’. So here I set out the case for reviewing Frederick’s reputation.

Frederick’s story excites me. His ascent from a childhood home headed by a poor and widowed mother to the very apex of the social order of the British Empire tells us as much about his character and qualities as about how open Victorian society was to the very clever. Would the son of a poor single parent in Britain today, in a country with so many mediocre schools, have such an opportunity?

It is not, however, only Frederick’s ability that excites. His character is equally attractive. He never sold out and never trimmed. He was never disloyal to those whose friendship perhaps damaged him in the eyes of an Establishment that would decide his preferment. But consider his record. Frederick’s political aim was nothing less than to revolutionize our country’s education. Meritocracy was to be advanced through a grammar school network that served the country well for more than a hundred years until it was smashed by Tony Crosland, aided and abetted by Mrs T.

William does not quite meet this record. While clearly so very able, he was nonetheless not sufficiently able to see that the philosophical framework he spent so much time explaining and developing was, at the very best, a cul-de-sac. And yet he was on the side of the angels and is now possibly a member of that illustrious group. William is also attractive because he is so much a transitional figure. His father could have stepped out of the pages of Boy’s Own. Hero was stamped right through him. William, his son, steps, by contrast, into the world of celebrity. But William played the part to perfection, and in so doing helped to raise the hopes of working people that our democracy should deliver them a people’s peace.

1

Last of the great Victorians

¹

History, as opposed to life, dealt Frederick Temple a rough hand. Temple’s request that no biography should be written has meant that, until now, we have observed him mainly through studies of his contemporaries, many of whom were also his rivals. His tenure at Canterbury was short and it came about when he was old and his powers were failing; Temple was not appointed archbishop until he was 75. His stewardship (from 1896 to 1902) occurred at a time when the Victorian age was fast closing, and most bright eyes were determinedly directed at the possibilities opening up with the new century. Frederick has therefore been contrasted unfavourably with his son William – who has been the only person so far to follow in his father’s footsteps to the throne of St Augustine. Moreover, while William benefited from the age in which he lived, Frederick lost by living into a period when heroes were giving place to personalities.

Then, to top everything, when – nearly a century later – Peter Hinchliff came along to refocus Frederick Temple’s public image, this gifted historian and biographer died just before completing the task. That death denies us the judgement of a knowledgeable and sympathetic observer and robs Temple of a forceful and clear exposition of his lasting value. It is possible, however, from Frederick Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury: A life to present a basis for the elder Temple’s greatness.

It is, above all, a tale fit for a land of heroes. Here the book displays the late Professor Hinchliff’s greatest gifts. From the poor home of a widowed mother, Temple rises, on the basis of scholarship and promotion secured by merit, to the social apex of the British Empire, becoming the most senior person in the kingdom apart from the principal members of the Royal Family. This remarkable record was achieved by an equal application of intellect and very hard work, and by Temple’s positioning himself, at considerable risk, on the two big issues of the century – education reform and scientific advance – while refusing to trim on essential questions or on matters of