to leave established religion and adopt a
             The conversation between Margaret and her father in chapter five of the
             novel sets the tone for religious controversy that bloomed in later
             chapters. Margaret's father was a minister who decided to leave the Church
             of England when he began having doubts about the faith. He announces his
             decision first to his daughter and asks her if she ever had doubts about
             'Doubts, papa! Doubts as to religion'' asked Margaret, more shocked than
             'No! not doubts as to religion; not the slightest injury to that.'
             He paused. Margaret sighed, as if standing on the verge of some new horror.
             He began again, speaking rapidly, as if to get over a set task:
             'You could not understand it all, if I told you--my anxiety, for years
             past, to know whether I had any right to hold my living--my efforts to
             quench my smouldering doubts by the authority of the Church. Oh! Margaret,
             how I love the holy Church from which I am to be shut out!' He could not go
             on for a moment or two. Margaret could not tell what to say; it seemed to
             her as terribly mysterious as if her father were about to turn Mahometan.
             Though he hadn't exactly become an atheist, the minister felt that his
             doubts were strong enough to meddle with the affairs of the Church and his
             job. Therefore he decides to leave ministry and is supported by his
             daughter and friends. However the news comes as a major shock to Margaret's
             Many critics maintain that the religious controversy that Gaskell
             ...