Dr Of Souls

After the second world war, during a period in which English Protestant non-conformity declined rapidly, a handful of names stand out. One of the most remarkable is that of the Methodist minister Leslie Dixon Weatherhead. Both through his ministry at the City Temple in the heart of London, and more generally through the massive sale of his books, Dr Weather-head became a dominant figure, with an influence beyond Britain. The City Temple, a Congregational church, was widely seen at the time as the greatest English Free Church pulpit, ensuring him a wide audience, while the quality of his preaching, combining emotional and intellectual power, wit and eloquence, won him admirers from all the churches. This led to offers from American and Canadian universities and congregations, and honorary degrees from around the world. Despite his Congregational call, he remained a Methodist minister, and indeed served as President of the Methodist Conference. Perhaps even more important was that he was one of the first to recognize the value for the clergy of the application of the insights of Freud and Jung.

His seventy-odd publications, of which The Christian Agnostic and Psychology, Religion and Healing were the most influential, bring out not only the theological liberalism that made him suspect in some circles, but also his understanding of the value of healing and of psychological insights. As a result his lay theology had a vast following.