This book investigates the evolving relationship between the Anglican Communion and the armed forces of the English-speaking world from the mid-Victorian era through the 1970s. Michael Snape, a scholar specializing in the history of religion and war, utilizes extensive archival research and historical analysis to document how the Church interacted with military institutions during a century defined by imperial expansion, global conflict, and the advent of nuclear weaponry. The work provides a framework for understanding the theological and institutional tensions inherent in the intersection of Christian ministry and state-sanctioned violence.

Scholars and historians recognize this work as a comprehensive examination of the intersection between institutional religion and military history. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and the depth of the archival research presented throughout the text.