The New International Encyclopædia/Labor Church

LABOR CHURCH. An organized effort to develop the religious life in the labor movement. The founder of the Labor Church was John Trevor, a singularly gifted and devoted man. The first services were held in a hall at Manchester, England, October 4, 1891, and in November the church was organized. Five principles were adopted. The service included the Lord's Prayer, hymns social in character, readings from Whitman, Emerson, Lamennais, Lowell, Whittier, Ruskin, Carlyle, and Maurice, and an address. In 1892 the Labor Prophet was started, and the Labor Hymn Book and tracts were published. The demand for similar churches was local and spontaneous. In July, 1893, a Labor Church Union of 14 churches was organized. By the next November there were 24 churches. The movement has not shown continued vitality.