Ritualism, in the history of
Christianity, refers to an emphasis on the
rituals and
liturgical ceremony of the church, in particular of
Holy Communion. In the
Anglican church in the 19th century, the role of ritual became a subject of great, often heated, debate. The debate was also associated with struggles for influence between
High Church and
Low Church movements. Opponents of ritualism have often argued that it privileged the actions of the ritual over the meanings that are meant to be conveyed by it. Supporters have sometimes maintained that a renewed emphasis on ritual and
liturgy was necessary to counter the increasing
secularisation of the church and
laity.