Popular Anti-Catholicism in Post-World War 2 England and Wales
By the mid-twentieth century, anti-Catholicism in England and Wales had declined significantly compared to the levels of discrimination seen in earlier centuries. But it had not disappeared. A distinct and persistent anti-Catholic rhetoric could be found in the pages of Protestant periodicals and newsletters and heard at meetings of fringe Protestant organisations such as the Protestant Truth Society. Yet, the anti-Catholic stereotypes, conspiracy theories, and polemic that resided in fringe Protestant circles also found purchase within wider society, seen in Mass Observation diaries, newspaper columns, and contemporary published literature. In the 1940s-1950s, anti-Catholicism permeated the cultural and political consciousness of England and Wales, reproducing many stereotypes seen in earlier years, now framed in the new political language of the Cold War era.
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This page was last updated on 14 March 2025
