This book identifies patterns and change in young people's engagement with organised Christianity across time. Through this, it provides a unique analysis of the engagement and exclusion of young people in three key time periods, 1900-1910, 1955-1972 and the present day.

Naomi Thompson is a Lecturer in Youth and Community Work at Goldsmiths, University of London. She has experience of research relating to young people and youth work. She specialises in young people and Christianity, with her PhD exploring the peak and decline of the Sunday School movement and the growth of Christian youth work. She has published on young people, youth work, and religion.

1 Introduction: Postmodernism, Institutionalisation and Social Currencies

2 From Raikes' Revolution to Rigid Institution: Sunday Schools in Twentieth-century England

3 Sunday Schooling in Birmingham and Beyond: Qualitative findings from the historical study

4 From Sunday Schools to Christian Youth Work: young people and Christianity in twenty-first century Birmingham

5 Christian youth work: social, spiritual and institutional agendas

6 An American Example: Youth Worker Narratives of Young People and Christianity in Minnesota

7 Conclusions