Anglican Teaching: Preface

FOREWORD

I am happy to accept the kind invitation of Dr. Wilson and his collaborator Dr. Templeton, to write a foreword to this book which they have written on the ‘Thirty-nine Articles’ in our Book of Common Prayer. It is most important that the Christian ‘apologia’ should be made dear, as it has been done in this book.

Our Church of Ireland is greatly indebted to these two scholars, who have used the leisure afforded them, when their parochial tasks have been carried out, to study deeply the records of our Reformation era, and to present their interpretation of our past history in modern language.

The original purpose of the ‘Articles’ was to instruct people in the Faith. The essential principles of continuity and change are embedded in our historic tradition. In each generation, therefore, it becomes necessary to explain the truths of the Christian Creeds in the setting and situation of the day.

The most remarkable phenomenon in twentieth century Christendom is the world-wide movement towards re-union. An understanding of the ‘Thirty-nine Articles’ throws light on the special genius and place of the Anglican Communion as a ‘Bridge Church’ which claims to hold firmly every doctrine taught in the Apostolic Age as ‘de fide’ and as ‘necessary for salvation’.

This study makes plain the ‘setting’ in which the Articles were produced in the Elizabethan period, when the scholars of that time in ‘Ecclesia Anglicana’ were guided towards a ‘via media’ between the extremes of the Church of Rome on the one hand, and the variety of ‘sectaries’ on the other. The appeal to Scripture and Antiquity convinced them that Christian Truth was to be found along a ‘middle pathway’. This is illustrated in the study of Articles VI, XIX, XX, and XXXIV. Those who are interested especially in the 'ecumenical movement' will find the treatment of these particular Articles illuminating.

The ‘Questions for Use in Discussion Groups-Appendix A’ is a very valuable addition to this work, and should be most helpful.

Dr. Wilson's appendix on ‘Christian Initiation’ and Dr. Templeton’s on ‘Cosmology’ will be of interest also, and of use to students in these subjects.

I commend this valuable work to all within or without our Communion who are working for Unity and Fellowship in Christ's Church.

JAMES ARMAGH

Archbishop of Armagh and
Primate of All Ireland.

The Palace,
Armagh,
5 April, 1962.


	Preface
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Title Contents Preface Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Site Search: powered by FreeFind Copyright & Credit	FOREWORD I am happy to accept the kind invitation of Dr. Wilson and his collaborator Dr. Templeton, to write a foreword to this book which they have written on the ‘Thirty-nine Articles’ in our Book of Common Prayer. It is most important that the Christian ‘apologia’ should be made dear, as it has been done in this book. Our Church of Ireland is greatly indebted to these two scholars, who have used the leisure afforded them, when their parochial tasks have been carried out, to study deeply the records of our Reformation era, and to present their interpretation of our past history in modern language. The original purpose of the ‘Articles’ was to instruct people in the Faith. The essential principles of continuity and change are embedded in our historic tradition. In each generation, therefore, it becomes necessary to explain the truths of the Christian Creeds in the setting and situation of the day. The most remarkable phenomenon in twentieth century Christendom is the world-wide movement towards re-union. An understanding of the ‘Thirty-nine Articles’ throws light on the special genius and place of the Anglican Communion as a ‘Bridge Church’ which claims to hold firmly every doctrine taught in the Apostolic Age as ‘de fide’ and as ‘necessary for salvation’. This study makes plain the ‘setting’ in which the Articles were produced in the Elizabethan period, when the scholars of that time in ‘Ecclesia Anglicana’ were guided towards a ‘via media’ between the extremes of the Church of Rome on the one hand, and the variety of ‘sectaries’ on the other. The appeal to Scripture and Antiquity convinced them that Christian Truth was to be found along a ‘middle pathway’. This is illustrated in the study of Articles VI, XIX, XX, and XXXIV. Those who are interested especially in the 'ecumenical movement' will find the treatment of these particular Articles illuminating. The ‘Questions for Use in Discussion Groups-Appendix A’ is a very valuable addition to this work, and should be most helpful. Dr. Wilson's appendix on ‘Christian Initiation’ and Dr. Templeton’s on ‘Cosmology’ will be of interest also, and of use to students in these subjects. I commend this valuable work to all within or without our Communion who are working for Unity and Fellowship in Christ's Church. JAMES ARMAGH Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. The Palace, Armagh, 5 April, 1962.
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