The Anglican Spiritual Tradition

by John R.H. Moorman

F4X2

Genres: Christianity, History, Theology, Church History, Religion, Christian

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Bishop John Richard Humpidge Moorman, BD, DD

Ordained an Anglican minister in 1929 and appointed Bishop of Ripon in 1959. He led the delegation of Church of England clergy that was invited to observe the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).

Reviews

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a phenomenal book on the history of the Anglican spiritual tradition. Moorman writes with clarity and ease which made it an enjoyable read. Anglican spirituality is unique and a real gift to Catholic Christendom.

[Robert Turnage · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been doing a deep dive into the Anglican Church recently (if you can’t tell from my recent reads), and I won’t say this was “thrilling,” but it was a useful look at the development of the Anglican tradition as a balancing of forces between Roman Catholicism and Reformation traditions. Much of it is intertwined with the history of England itself, but what’s beautiful to me is how Anglicanism has managed to maintain the Catholic emphasis on the sacraments and asceticism balanced by reforms to the Latinate tradition (such as decentralizing the papacy) which are critical to upholding the best of the reformation traditions, while also (in my opinion) maintaining the deeper meaning of catholicity itself.

[Paul/Suzette Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can’t go wrong with Bishop Moorman... ever!

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bishop J.R.H. Moorman has given his audience, both and clergy, a sturdy survey of the spiritual theology and practices that have sustained the Anglican tradition. His style is accessible for the most part, though he assumes knowledge of certain events that would alienate a reader encountering Anglican faith for the first time. Bishop Moorman's Anglo-Catholic persuasion is apparent in his interpretation of Anglican history, but his manner of speech is always irenic towards Evangelicals.

I would have given this read a few more stars if some passages were not so dry. Chronicling the contributors to Anglican hymnody doesn't convey the beauty that Moorman seeks to communicate. Yet the themes of Anglican spirituality are consistent from one century to the next. The gift of this work is its arrangement of material so that the reader sees the continuity of the tradition from the time of the English Reformation. Moorman seems to lose focus in the final chapters, contradicting the sacred devotion of previous generations by carelessly excusing the spiritual laxity of 20th century Anglicans. That aside, his concluding chapter is an excellent summation of Anglican identity, though an Evangelical reader will certainly take exception with some Anglo-Catholic interpretations of Anglican norms.

All in all, this book is a worthwhile read, but it is best read as an introduction rather than a thorough exploration of Anglican spiritual theology.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting discovery of the development of theology in the Anglican/Episcopal Church.

[Jonathan Frazier]

248.483