The Avenue – November 18th

Celebrating 250 Years.  “Churches, Chapels, Abbeys and Cathedrals in Jane Austen’s Novels”

Many people don’t realize that Jane Austen, the author of Pride and Prejudice and five other wonderful novels, was a committed Christian. Her father, two brothers, and many of her friends and relations were clergymen. All her novels include clergymen as well. Her novels have Christian themes such as humility, truth, repentance, and forgiveness. They emphasize Christian virtues and condemn vices, in the context of stories that are always entertaining and never preachy.

The Church of England plays a significant part in Austen’s novels, though we often don’t notice it. Jane Austen refers to four different types of churches: churches, chapels, abbeys, and cathedrals. This presentation will explore what these meant in her time, and their significance. We will also briefly consider how Christians in Austen’s time were changing their world.

Brenda Cox, a graduate of Georgia Tech, is an independent writer and researcher.  Brenda writes for the websites Jane Austen’s World and Faith, Science, Joy and Jane Austen, as well as the magazine Jane Austen’s Regency World. She is the author of Fashionable Goodness: Christianity in Jane Austen’s England (2022). Brenda is an active member of JASNA, the Jane Austen Society of North America, the Canadian-American literary society dedicated to celebrating the genius of Jane Austen.

Copies of Brenda S. Cox’s book, Fashionable Goodness: Christianity in Jane Austen’s England will also be available for sale at a special price of $20 cash.

Our Lunch will be potluck! The main dish will be provided. Please bring sides if last name is A-M, or a dessert if N-Z.   No Registration Required.