Manchester historian honoured

A University of Manchester historian has received one of the Europe's oldest and most important history prizes. Professor Joseph Bergin was given the prize this month from the French Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres for his book Church, society and religious change in France 1580-1730. It recognizes the most important works published on the history of France, and is rarely given to non-French language publications. "It is a great honour to receive this award, and recognition that this book is now regarded as most comprehensive account written in any language - French included - of the subject and period,” said Professor Bergin. His work, published by Yale University Press, examines the changes within French Catholicism during a crucial period of its history between the wars of religion and the early Enlightenment. Professor Bergin added: "My book shows how the structures and institutions of the church remained highly resistant to change. "But the continuing presence of a substantial Protestant minority within France and, later on, internal tensions within Catholicism itself generated a campaign to 'reform' religious practices at almost every level.