By the standards of 19th-century British Methodism, Lidgett's theology was
liberal; he rejected the
penal substitution doctrine of the
atonement, and wanted to move his denomination away from its inherited tendency to a narrow
evangelical stance, towards a
social gospel. He founded the
Bermondsey Settlement, the only Methodist foundation among the 19th century
settlements in the East End of London. Like the secular settlements such as
Toynbee Hall, it aimed to bring into the neighbourhood middle-class activists who could provide social and educational facilities for the poor, rather than concentrating narrowly on evangelism like the Church's more traditional "Missions" located in poor areas of London. Within the Church, Lidgett founded the modern
Wesley Guild, a social organization aimed at young people but also offering activities to adults, which claimed over 150,000 members by 1900. He was
President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference (the ruling body of the denomination) in 1908–09. He was also an early supporter of the
ecumenical movement and a key architect of British
Methodist Union in 1932, and was the first President of the newly united church's conference. He remained in the active work of the ministry as chairman of the London South-West Methodist District until he was 94. Lidgett was active in London politics for much of his career. He served as an alderman of the
London County Council, and was leader of the
Progressive Party on the council from 1918 to 1928. He was prominent on the LCC Education Committee. He was appointed a
Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1933. ==Family==