One hundred years ago there existed in England the Association for the Promotion of the Unity of Christendom. Representing as it did the efforts of only unauthorized individuals of the Roman and Anglican Churches, and urging a communion of prayer unacceptable to Rome, this association produced little fruit, and, in fact, was condemned by the Holy Office in 1864.

Now again in 1961, in England, there is perhaps nothing in the religious sphere so popularly discussed as Christian unity. The Church Unity Octave, January 18 -- 25, was enthusiastically devoted to prayer and discussion by the various churches. Many people seem hopeful, yet it is difficult to predict whether or not there will be any more real attainment of Christian unity in 1961 than there was in 1861. But it must be readily seen that the religious picture in England has so greatly changed during these hundred years as to engender hope, at least on the Catholic side. For ``the tide is well on the turn,'' as the London Catholic weekly Universe has written.

I came to England last summer to do research on the unpublished letters of Cardinal Newman. As an American Catholic of Irish ancestry, I came with certain preconceptions and expectations; being intellectually influenced by Newman and the general 19th century literature of England, I knew only a Protestant dominated country. Since arriving here, however, I have formed a far different religious picture of present-day England. In representing part of this new picture, I will be recounting some of my own personal experiences, reactions and judgments; but my primary aim is to transcribe what Englishmen themselves are saying and writing and implying about the Roman and Anglican Churches and about the present religious state of England.