Outside the formal teachings of the established religious institutions of many 'advanced' societies, there continues to exist a rich body of 'unofficial' or 'folk' religious beliefs and practices. This book provides an insight into the nature of folk religion in a small fishing village in North Yorkshire. Using a combination of sociological and historical methods, David Clark first explores the impact of an official religion - Methodism - on the village in the early nineteenth century, and its subsequent place in village life. He goes on the describe the ways in which Methodism relates to a...