Edward Hicks: A Pacifist Bishop at War

The true story of a British Bishop who declared himself to be a pacifist, and what he did when England entered World War I

The story of Edward Hicks throws a new light on the problems of conscience World War I created. Acclaimed author G. R. Evans reveals how he wrestled with the issues, yet had to watch his sons go off to fight—one not to return. Drawing upon his detailed diaries, full of indiscreet comments—the sort of thing it would now be unwise for a bishop to write in an e-mail—Evans reveals Edward Hicks to be a man who was wrestling with his own conscience and beliefs. He was also a strong supporter of votes for women, which was highly unusual at that time, and a supporter of teetotalism, an unusual stance for a Church of England dignitary—not uncontroversial matters on which a bishop could adopt a high-profile position without inviting trouble. This book provides a fascinating glimpse into the impact the war had on those who waited at home and tried to hold onto their humanity.