Walk & Talk: Hardy and Religion

Date: Saturday, 4th October 2025

Time: 12pm to 1pm

Cost: Free: THS Members / £5 Non-Members

Guide: Mark Chutter, THS Chair & Academic Director

Meet: By Dorchester Town Pump in South Street

Throughout his life, Thomas Hardy had a complicated relationship with religion. He was raised in a devout household and initially embraced Christian teachings. His family had strong ties to the church, and he was exposed to its music, rituals, and the language of the Bible from a young age. As he matured, he encountered new ideas, particularly Darwin's theory of evolution, which challenged the traditional Christian understanding of creation and humanity's place in the world. He also engaged with the "higher criticism" of the Bible, which questioned its historical accuracy and authority.

Hardy's intellectual explorations led him to question and ultimately abandon his belief in a personal, loving God. He described himself as an agnostic, acknowledging the mystery of the universe but rejecting the traditional religious explanations for it. However, many of those closest to him had strong ties to the church.

This walk will visit local churches to explore Hardy's thoughts on religion and how Dorchester's charismatic church leaders: Reverends John White, William Barnes and Henry Moule may have influenced.

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