Tracts for the Times
Preserved but no longer current.
A series of papers on theological and liturgical subjects, published at Oxford (hence sometimes called The Oxford Tracts} between 1833 and 1841. They were started by the Rev. J. H. Newman (afterwards Cardinal Newman) with the object of arresting "the advance of Liberalism in religious thought," and reviving "the true conception of the relation of the Church of England to the Catholic Church at large.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Tracts for the Times” mean?
A series of papers on theological and liturgical subjects, published at Oxford (hence sometimes called The Oxford Tracts} between 1833 and 1841. They were started by the Rev. J. H. Newman (afterwards Cardinal Newman) with the object of arresting "the advance of Liberalism in religious thought," and reviving "the true conception of the relation of the Church of England to the Catholic Church at large.
Is “Tracts for the Times” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.