What Is Anglicanism?

by Urban T. Holmes III

An accessible introduction to and basic understanding of Anglican heritage. The early chapters explore the Anglican consciousness, authority within the Church, and how Anglicans read the Bible. Other chapters cover Anglican understandings of the Incarnation, sacraments, liturgy, the Episcopacy, pastoral care, spirituality, mission, church and state, and prophetic witness .

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Theology, Nonfiction

95 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Urban Tigner Holmes, III (June 12, 1930-August 6, 1981) was an Episcopal priest, theologian, and academic during the twentieth century. He was the son of Urban T. Holmes Jr. and Margaret Allen Gemmell Holmes. Following studies at the University of North Carolina, he studied for the priesthood at the former Philadelphia Divinity School. He served as dean of the School of Theology of the University of the South from 1973 until his death.

Reviews

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is not my faith I think it's good to understand what others believe. If we all understand each other maybe there wouldn't be as much trouble in the world.

[Scott Beddingfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep and dense but written so well to be extremely informative for any who would ask what do Episcopalians/Anglicans believe and why.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gave one person's view of Anglicanism, namely Urban Holmes III.

Holmes gives his perspective on what is the best of Anglicanism, especially through the stories of historical figures, many obscure. He liked to focus on how Anglicanism at its best thinks with "the left hand". I think now we would say, "right brain". Basically it's not the most rationalistic faith, but incorporates symbol and affect as essential parts of the faith experience.

He also showed how the history of the Anglican church is more of an Elizabethan invention than that of Henry VIII. That was helpful. Holmes cleared up the question I had about what happened after the American revolution, and how our church became the "Episcopal" church.

This was definitely not some dispassionate, objective treatise on the Anglican church, but I don't think that was Holmes' point. It was very much a view from the inside and an emphasis on what he believes makes Anglicanism a great Christian tradition.

I definitely resonate with Anglicanism's comfort with ambiguity and holding diverse opinions in tension with the commitment to dialogue. I also like its historicity and connection to traditions of the church. There's something a bit strange, though, that Anglicans can all call themselves Anglicans without some general creed or faith commitment other than the operational use of the Book of Common Prayer.

People are so shocked now that people like John Shelby Spong or Gene Robinson are allowed to minister within the communion, but I see this trajectory as a fundamental part of the DNA of Anglicanism. It's always held diverse cultural views in tension. As the culture changes, so does Anglicanism. Is that a good thing or bad thing? Yes.

[Anne Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a little outdated (written in the early '80s) and rooted in the author's singular experience with the Episcopal church but still a good introduction to this wing of the global church. This was recommended by my priest. His favorite line is at the beginning and he recited it to me from memory: "When Anglicanism is at its best its liturgy, its poetry, its music and its life can create a world of wonder in which it is very easy to fall in love with God." My favorite is toward the end: "Christian conversion, a turning to Christ, is the result of a marinade rather than a glaze. We are transformed by being soaked in the Gospel, rather than having it brushed on at the last minute."

[Alex Strohschein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best explanations of Anglicanism I have yet come across. Urban Holmes' contention through this brief book is that Anglicanism is more "left-handed" (creative, intuitive) than it is right-handed (logical). Holmes arranges the chapters by beliefs and practices, for instance, there are chapters on "The Incarnation," "The Liturgy" and "Pastoral Care." Every chapter features a notable (though often unknown) figure from the Anglican heritage, such as William Palmer Ladd, who spent his life working on the liturgy and Book of Common Prayer or John Coleridge Patteson, the missionary bishop of Melanesia who was murdered. This is great because Holmes is able to introduce readers to a wide variety of Anglican exemplars.

It is hard for me to pinpoint where Holmes was in terms of his theology; I believe he held to classic Christianity which is important because most American Episcopalians that come to mind are super-liberal such as James Pike, John Shelby Spong and Gene Robinson. However, Holmes also has critical comments to make against the Moral Majority and the Evangelical wing of Anglicanism. I think some of his remarks about Pietists are caustic and are not brotherly. He claims that Anglicans are not well-known as theologians and challenges the reader to identify a famous Anglican theologian but the likes of J.I. Packer and N.T. Wright are certainly very prominent scholars (though Holmes, who passed away the same year this book was published, would not have known of any of Wright's scholarship because it would be about a decade before it would be released). Holmes points out that Anglicanism is NOT Calvinistic and he also writes about the similarities and sharp differences between the Church of England and Rome (for instance, in similarity, he makes the point that the bishop is a powerful symbol for the Church).

This is a short introduction to Anglicanism and I would recommend it to anyone curious about that denomination.

[Robert Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening intro to the Anglican Church, written from the vantage of a priest of the same (this was his final published work before passing). Holmes' approach to providing an introductory overview of the church is creative and engaging. Each chapter begins with a short biography of a member of the Anglican Church (some well known, some obscure) whose life demonstrates what Holmes feels is a typically Anglican approach to the given topic of the chapter (Anglican Consciousness, the Bible, Mission, Spirituality, Pastoral Care, etc.). Holmes then summarizes key points or identifying characteristics of the topic as understood by Anglicans. The writing is not objective (Holmes states up front that this is not his purpose; rather, he is writing as one from the inside looking out), and consequently there were a few points on which I would disagree with him (for example, his interesting, though I think rather muddled chapter on the Incarnation, though admittedly, I don't think I fully grasped his understanding). However, on the whole I felt this a very well-presented and educational look at the church. A short book, and relatively easy to read, but certainly not lacking in some profound insights.

[Katrina Morrison]

"There is an Anglican proclivity to sensibility - the taking into account the whole of an experience - ambiguity and all."

"But we are at our best when we acknowledge the penultimate nature of our answers to the character of God and His will for us."

"Sensibility is a recognition that the inexpressible nature of God can never be reduced to our categories or our simplistic notion of the divine will."

"God is the creator of everything that is. The knowledge of God requires only that we look at his handiwork. The extraordinary shines through the ordinary."

"The consciousness of Anglicanism is dominantly feminine."

[Holly Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ultimately the authenticity of faith and belief is measured at the bar of justice. All religious questions merge into the one query: What shall we do? There is an inevitable course to our religious profession which can be aborted only by denying its Lord. That course leads to living in the world as God sees the world. We can debate the trivial points, but the vision is largely clear. To love God is to relieve the burden of all who suffer. The rest is a question of tactics." (p. 95)

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous introduction to what it means to be an Anglican (or Episcopalian). It's an easy read but I found myself reading over it again and again to allow the meaning of these simple words to sink more deeply in to my understanding.

[Edward Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just one priest's view on Anglicism some to which I agree, it is a view that the Church needs to go back to!

[AJ Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic history of the Anglican Church, both historical and now.

[Zac Talbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good concise summary of what it means to be Anglican... Good, short yet in depth read that leaves the reader with a good grasp of where Anglicanism came from and what it means today.

[Jonathan Frazier]

283 (2 copies)