Always Open: Being an Anglican Today

by Richard Giles

Seventy million assorted individuals comprise a church family that is renowned for its rich diversity. Christians of all shades of belief together make up the Anglican Communion, a fellowship of churches that extends around the world and includes the Episcopal Church in the United States. At its best, the spirit of openness that marks this fellowship is a sign of openness to the Holy Spirit. Few Anglicans would presume to have “arrived” spiritually, and the door is always open to all who are seeking God.Whether you are a cradle Episcopalian or are exploring the denomination, Always Open is an excellent introduction to Anglican beliefs and practices. Down–to–earth and good humored, Always Open explains the essentials of the Anglican approach to authority, the Bible, social and moral questions, dialogue with people of other faiths, and much, much more.

161 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2005

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often amusing, sometimes snarky, this is a great account of the ethos of the Anglican communion, on both sides of the pond.

[moody · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Scholastics do not understand that life, all life, escapes analysis. What they dissect is the dead body....Pass them by, with a gentle, very gentle smile; pass them by." Abbé Huvelin

[loafingcactus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book at the same time as The Identity of Anglicanism by Paul Avis. The books come from slightly different social perspectives, but both seem to put a great emphasis on the road of theological politeness (not a term either uses) as central to the Anglican raison d'etre. Considering the murderous and bloody time that birthed the Church of England, that makes sense. Both books seem to be a call to that politeness from the perspective that really, it's what Anglicanism is all about to start with.

This particular books is by an English priest re-located to Philadelphia, and so it has a particular wry look at the American way of doing things compared to the English, which all rolled together made for quite a bit of LOL. Example from p. 25:

"The downside of this reverece for episcopally ordained ministry is that we have tended to clericalize anything that moves 'up front.' Anyone who moves out of their seat to play a part in worship is likely to be kidnapped, taken to the sacristy, and trussed up in an alb..."

Apparently too true, as other Anglican histories I have read have discussed delicate negotiations of person wishing to avoid various versions of the trussing up and where they should sit or stand during a service in their inadequate attire.

The book is clearly written with love, and was a darling to read. I have no idea how much of it's evaluation of Anglican culture is true and how much is wishfulness, but insofar as he wishes to influence the incoming generation, his picture of the culture is something worth having wishfulness for.

[Nicholas Pang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of much of what binds Anglicanism together and a helpful reflection on Anglican identity. I wouldn't endorse every word in the book and some things have simply moved beyond the 2004 publication of the book, but overall a good and helpful resource I'd consider using for a book study.