The second half of the twentieth century was a turbulent time for the Church of England. This book offers the first comprehensive historical picture to be published of its life and work during the period, tracing the development of the church in a period of immense upheaval. It provides a detailed portrait not only of the work of its archbishops and bishops, but within its relationship with the State, across its central institutions and in the lives of communities throughout the country. It places the church in its social context, exploring the realities of domestic and international migration, multi-culturalism and secularization and tracing the various strains of parochial reform which arose in response, while other sections focus on the administration of property, particularly bishops' houses and the work of the cathedrals. Finally, the book examines recent crises which are still the subject of argument, not least the financial speculations of the late 1980s and early 1990s, which were alleged to have 'lost' GBP800 million. From this followed controversies which remain powerful: about the reform of the Church of England itself and the nature of its relationship with the state.