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nglo- a holic hris iani y Rev. J. Wesley Evans Part I: Our Historical Roots I Reformation to Glorious Revolution The Reformation in England The Issues of the Late Medieval Church Papacy s entanglement in political affairs. The Glossa Ordinaria and the Renaissance ideal of ad fontes: The Glossa Ordinaria was a standard set of commentary on the scriptures. As the Bible was copied often explanations of texts or quotes by Church Fathers and Theologians would be added to the margins. Often these texts were themselves recopied. Eventually a standard commentary text developed that became functionally as authoritative as the Scriptures themselves. Theologians would write commentary on the Glossa and quote from it as the Glossa in debate. With the Renaissance came new ideals, one of which was the idea of ad fontes to the source. The Renaissance was a revival of antiquity and along with this came the desire to go behind some of the accumulation of history and get back to the original sources of things. The Reformation would have its own version of this in the concept of Sola Scriptura. The Glossa was seen as flawed and inferior. The Reformers desired to return to the original source of the text itself. This is way even with Sola Scriptura the Magisterial Reformation valued the Church Fathers even though many of the radicals ignored them. The Reformation was the religious side of Renaissance humanism. grace factories [Chancery Guilds, Indulgences for the dead]. This was issue addressed by Luther s 95 thesis. Lack of lay participation in Mass. There are Medieval mass devotional books that were designed to give the people something to do during the mass. Mostly they were uninvolved and Mass was a time for them to engage in private devotion before receiving communion (which was rare). Corruption of the Church: Simony, Nepotism, Absenteeism. Via Moderna and grace: The Via Moderna was a popular movement in the latter middle ages. In terms of the Reformation the issue that came about was with the nature of grace and salvation. In Medieval theology there was a distinction between condigned and congruous merit. Condigned merit is an instant giving of grace, whereas congruent merit is a progressive cooperation with grace. Augustine said that God crowns his own gifts, the idea being that God grants the grace of righteousness and then crowns the person for that righteousness. Aquinas followed this by Rev. J. Wesley Evans Anglo-Catholic Christianity 1

placing condigned merit first as the initial gift of justification and then congruent merit as that which happens afterwards to satisfy God s law. Under the influence of Biel (d.1495) these two concepts were flipped. One earns congruent merit first and then is given condigned merit as a gift. Thus for early medieval scholasticism the gift of justification was first, but for the later via moderna movement it was more of a reward. This was the works righteousness that caused problems for the Reformers. The Reformation in General Cultural and Philosophical changes leading to the Reformation: o Rise of Cities: The development of cities created a more powerful and wealthy middle class (particularly in England). Until this point Europe s economy was not based on money so much as trade and production of raw goods. Now there was a new group of people who were not part of the established aristocracy but also needed to read. Not only that, but they developed much leisure time in the cities and wanted to read. This placed a new emphasis on a common literate spirituality. Much of Protestantism spread though the middle classes in cities. This is also where the Renaissance flourished, and the emphasis of going back to the sources became the theological principle of Sola Scriptura. o Universities and Nationalism: Along with the cities came the Universities. Although these had been in existence long before, they helped develop ideals of nationalism. Until this time people did not think of themselves as english, or french or spanish as a national body. They intermingling of ideas in the universities, and the encounter with various people created a more national consciousness. Out of this developed ideas of republicanism which would influence how people believed the church should be as well as more likely to criticize the papacy for political involvement. o Nominalism: The denial of universals, things are just that which they are called. Thus there is no ultimate goodness, but good is whatever God called it to be. In nominalism to say that God is sovereign means he has the free will to do whatever he pleases, and that whatever he pleases is good because he decreed it to be. The earlier Medieval theologians said God is good in essence, and so what he decrees must be good. For nominalists God could have decreed a different 10 commandments. Also, in nominalism the Church cannot have an ultimate existence, but is merely a voluntary association of people who gather. The Church becomes that which performs particular functions such as rightly administering the sacraments, right preaching of the Gospel and church discipline. Rev. J. Wesley Evans Anglo-Catholic Christianity 2

Three types of Reformation: Magisterial, Radical, Catholic o Magisterial: The reformation of the protestant creeds and councils such as Concord and Synod of Dort. This was the main reformation of Luther and Calvin. It was more moderate and conservative. Luther, in fact, kept many catholic practices and both Luther and Calvin respected the Church Fathers. o Radical: The radical end of the reformation such as the anabaptists that become Mennonites and Amish. Tended to reject all that came before them, saw the sacraments as mere ordinances, and had a strong anti-institutional bent. o Catholic: Contrary to popular opinion, the Roman Church also underwent a reformation. Although much of the core theology stayed the same, and so was still at issue for the Protestants, many of the commonly acknowledged abuses were condemned and the Council of Trent did honestly attempt to reform the Church. Luther: Looking for assurance of salvation Calvin: Concern for the Glory of God alone Zwingli: Purify the Church from superstition Henry VIII There was a strong tide of anti-papalism in England, but not as much anti- Catholicism. The people liked their religion but not their church. Henry VIII never desired to be Protestant, he personally condemned the theology of Luther ( defender of the Faith ) and his funeral was a catholic requiem mass. Henry s political issues with Rome stemmed from the War of the Roses. Henry wanted the Tudors to stay in charge, thus he needed an heir. His request for an annulment was widely supported and would have likely been granted had Catherine not been from Aragon. Papal politics got in the way of his own, and he fought for royal supremacy. The Act of Supremacy was passed by Parliament in 1534 making the Crown the head of the Church in England. Rome acted like a foreign power, and the English reformation was about treating her as such. Catholicism without the Pope, Henry as head of the Church in England. Little real theological change. Monasteries dissolved under Henry, but clerical celibacy still in force. This was probably due to their great wealth and power, and the fact that in general monastics owed allegiance more directly to the papacy then secular clergy. Rev. J. Wesley Evans Anglo-Catholic Christianity 3

Cranmer s Prayer Book and Edward VI The next in line for the throne, Edward VI, was much more Protestant then his father. This was in large part due to the influence Thomas Cranmer had over his boyhood education. Until the Reformation there were multiple books needed: Missal, Rituale, Pontificale, Martyrology, Ceremonial. All of them in latin. Cranmer revised the old Sarum rite, reduced the calendar, translated all of it into English, and combined into one book. First BCP developed in 1549. For the first time all clergy and people had the same book in a common language NB: But the Book of Common Prayer in English was resisted by many. The Welsh, Cornish, ect. who used local dialects preferred the latin because they saw the English language being imposed upon them. 1549 BCP still had many catholic elements, exorcism at baptism, blessing the elements at communion, pascha nostrum. Later proposed 1552 BCP eliminated all of these and moved the Church of England in a more Protestant direction. Mary and the Catholic Resurgence After some issues of succession after the death of Edward VI in 1553, Mary (the daughter of Henry and Catherine of Aragon) became Queen of England. Mary herself was Catholic, and desired England to return to the Catholic Faith. Edward VI had attempted to prevent her from the throne in an effort to keep England Protestant. Mary was the English equivalent of the counter-reformation. She attempted to bring the English Church back to Rome. Much of the restoration of popular religion was welcomed at the time. Most of her opposition came from the cities and universities where Protestantism was strongest. She did persecute many heretics but in reality the numbers are equivalent to Elizabeth. It was, however, during this time that Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, and Hugh Latimer were ordered to be burned at the stake. Cranmer actually recanted initially, then changed his mind before the execution. Her and Reginold Pole (her appointed Archbishop of Canterbury) died of influenza in 1558 Development of Anglicanism Rev. J. Wesley Evans Anglo-Catholic Christianity 4

Queen Elizabeth I (The Elizabethan Settlement) Elizabeth I leaned Protestant, but she was less dogmatic about it then many would have liked. She was primarily concerned with the unity of the Empire, and would tolerate much as long as nobody caused too much trouble. Under her, classic Anglicanism developed from this attempt at keeping everything in order. This was a documentary settlement created from the following: o The Book of Common Prayer: This was (and is) the primary thing that unifies the Church of England. What made someone Anglican? They worship according to the BCP. o Act of Supremacy: Declares Elizabeth supreme governor of the Church of England o Act of Uniformity: imposes 1552 BCP as the only standard of worship in the Church. This was the issue that enraged many puritans due to both the principle of the thing as well as some lingering popery in the BCP. o Ornaments Rubric: And here is to be noted, that such Ornaments of the Church, and of the Ministers thereof, at all Times of their Ministration, shall be retained, and be in use, as were in this Church of England, by the Authority of Parliament, in the Second Year of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth. Important for Anglo-Catholics as it will provide later justification for reviving many traditional vestments. o 39 Articles: The confessional document. It itself was a via media between Lutheran conservative Protestantism and the more radical forms. It was not, at the time, intended to allow a revival of Roman theology. However, it is much more open to interpretation and less precise then other Reformation documents. As a result, it is still more catholic in some areas. o Elizabethan Injunctions: Various rules imposed, mostly for the increase of education among the clergy and people. Two major theologians of the Elizabethan Settlement: John Jewel and Richard Hooker: o John Jewel wrote against Rome. He supports England s Protestantism by arguing that Rome left the faith and so left the Church. o Richard Hooker: Articulated a via media against the pertains who wanted more radical reform. He saw the puritans taking Sola Scriptura too far. There were dissenters. Many dissenters lived by the letter of the law and kept their own private practices, but some created underground churches. o Recusants (Catholics) Under Elizabeth Rome developed a underground church Rev. J. Wesley Evans Anglo-Catholic Christianity 5

Roman Catholics stuck in the middle. Rome forbid Catholics to attend Prayer Book services while Elizabeth increased fines for not attending. Many priests come in from the continent, more the 600 trained in the new seminaries, not for evangelism but to take care of the Catholics there. o Puritans (Protestants of the hotter sort ) Primarily centered at the cities and universities Focus was on immediacy on the presence of God, and in a good way, on spirituality and moral living. Varied in level of how radical they were. Had many issue with the Elizabethan settlement theologians over interpretation of the Bible and how much tradition to keep. Puritans were both Congregationalists and Presbyterians, generally saw Bishops as papistical fripperies. Most were heavily influenced by the magisterial reformation, particularly Calvin. They still held a strong view of the sacraments and baptized infants. They took issue with many of the worship practices of the Elizabethan Settlement and BCP. Continued use of vestments, prescribed prayers, and dumb readings. They also had issues with some problems such as little and bad preaching, little motivation for personal holiness, and multiple livings among clergy (one minister for several churches, of which he gets the income to all of them). There developed two different groups: separatists and nonseparatists. For the separatists the CoE was not the true church and real Christians should remove themselves from her. Non-separatists still believed the Church could be fully reformed. King James I James succeeded Elizabeth 1603. He was from Scotland, and due to the popularity of Presbyterianism there, the Puritans thought he would be on their side. The Puritans presented King James with the Millinary Petition, asking him to ban such things as making the sign of the cross, wearing a surplice, confirmation, and bowing at the name of Jesus. James I calls the Puritans to Hampton Court, and although he does agree to a new translation of the Bible (Authorized KJV) and a revision of the BCP, he rejects all other part of the petition. Rev. J. Wesley Evans Anglo-Catholic Christianity 6

James I believed fully in the Divine Right of Kings, and saw his fate tied with that of the Episcopacy. no Bishop, no King. Ascendancy of Anglican Theology Caroline Divines The Caroline Divines are the name for a group of theologians and writers during the time between the reign of Charles I and Charles II [1626-1685] which includes the English Civil War and the Interregnum of Cromwell. The term developed later in the 19 th century by the Oxford Movement, first used in the Library of Anglo-Catholic Theology Some of the more famous include: Lancelot Andrews, William Laud, Jeremy Taylor, and George Herbert. Had some connections with the continental reformation and there was a Calvinist component. They were different from Rome, but disagreed with the Synod of Dort over primarily predestination to reprobation. In general, however, the Caroline Divines tended much more towards Arminianism. This is not entirely accurate, but was also the label given them by the Puritans. Believed that Bishops were Bishops by divine right They were high churchmen in the old term. Not Anglo-Catholic [this did not exist yet] non-calvinist Protestant with a high view of the authority and power of the Church as an institution. Some examples of William Laud (Archbishop of Canterbury) were to remove tables to reinstitute altars, reintroduce candles and crosses, as well as various displays of ecclesiastical power. The English Civil War, Interregnum, and Glorious Revolution After James I: o Charles I (1625 1649) o Interregnum (1649 1660) o Charles II (1660 1685) o James II (1685 1689) o William III of Orange and Mary II (1685 1702) There were various causes of the English Civil War, but for our interest we will focus on the religious aspect. In general, Charles I imposed too many taxes and did not respond well to growing republican ideals. Charles dissolved Parliament twice when they did something he didn t like. Charles I had a stronger view of Divine Right of Kings then James I. I owe account of my actions to God alone. Rev. J. Wesley Evans Anglo-Catholic Christianity 7

Charles I also irritated the Scottish by attempting to impose a Prayer Book on them more catholic then the one in England. The Mass is entered among us! Eventually the mounting tensions lead to war between Parliament and the Crown. The royals did badly, losing several major battles. During this time Parliament was de facto in charge the long Parliament The Long Parliament reversed many of Charles edicts. In addition they were also much more Puritan. They executed William Laud, outlawed the BCP, and held the Westminster Assembly. They also rejected Episcopacy and created a Presbyterian Church of England. It was at the Westminster Assembly that Parliament met with Scottish Presbyterians and drafted the Westminster Confession. They also created the Directory of Public Worship. The Confession was strongly Calvinist, and the Directory addressed many of the issues that the Pertains considered popish. The Solemn League and Covenant was sworn at this time to fight popery, prelacy, heresy, and superstition. Regulative Principle lead to puritans banning almost everything, such as Easter, Christmas. Charles I was eventually defeated, then imprisoned in 1647. Then after a brief escape he was recaptured in 1648 then after more issued between him and Parliament he was brought to trial and sentenced to execution in 1649. Parliament then took over to create the Commonwealth of England. This lasted until Cromwell, dissatisfied with Parliament and in control f the Army, forcibly dissolves them and becomes Lord Protector in 1653. Cromwell was the main military leader of the Parliamentarians during the war and a radical Puritan more in line with the Congregationalists then even the Presbyterians. Under his rule Christmas was banned, marriage was made merely a civil ceremony, and various forms of public entertainment such as theaters where closed. On the other hand he was fairly tolerant of the various Protestant groups in England and did impose worship standards on the nation. In this sense he was a strong advocate of religious tolerance and freedom. Even the Irish were persecuted more for being Irish then for being Catholic. After Cromwell s death, his son takes over in 1658. However he is a failure as a leader and resigned in 1660. In an effort to maintain order the Army invites Charles II back to England (he had fled to France). Due to his French connection many Puritans and even Anglicans were suspicious of Catholic leanings. In fact the Queen Consort was Roman Catholic and was even more troubling to many English. The result of the regicide and interregnum was a groundswell of opinion against the Puritans. Charles I was declared a martyr and added to the Rev. J. Wesley Evans Anglo-Catholic Christianity 8

calendar of saints (briefly) in 1662 with the revision of the Prayer Book. Anglicanism became dominant, and most of Parliament was now of the Anglican party. The Prayer Book was more Anglican and less Puritan, and the Act of Uniformity reinstated. Although Charles I never brought England into the Roman Church, on his deathbed he converted and died a Roman Catholic. He was succeeded by his brother James II who was openly Roman Catholic and attempted to convert England back. This caused a great amount of problems and eventually some of the nobles invited William and Mary to invade and take the Crown. Once it was clear to Charles that the army and navy would oppose him he fled to France and William and Mary rode triumphantly into London. This is called the glorious revolution. Rev. J. Wesley Evans Anglo-Catholic Christianity 9