Matthew Arnold 
Last Essays on Church and Religion (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) 

This 1877 volume contains one of Arnold’s most scathing attacks on the established church, ‘The Church of England.’ He berates the clergy for championing the interests of the wealthy and powerful and neglecting the poor and downtrodden.  The essay was originally delivered as an address to the London clergy.

About the author

Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) wrote “Dover Beach” (1867), one of the best-known poems in the English language. A prominent Victorian man of letters, he was appointed professor of poetry at Oxford. His writings on contemporary society, culture, and religion were instrumental in establishing criticism as an art form.