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back to June 2009

The Church Society on 'strange vestments and ceremonies'

30/06/2009 20:20:00

“The use of strange vestments and ceremonies, which neither we nor our fathers have seen, has often been spoken of as childishness and frivolity. I have never been able to regard it from its ridiculous side. I believe it has gone along with a deliberate intention to alter the doctrinal position of the Church of England, by introducing into our services, ornaments, vessels, and gestures, which are not prescribed in our order of Common Prayer, and which not being prescribed, are, in effect, excluded from it.”

This condemnation of Anglo Catholic practice by the Archbishop of York (in 1860) is taken from the tract 'Episcopal Condemnations of ritualism' (pdf link) published yesterday by the evangelical group the Church Society. This document is not the only such one on the Church Society site - browsing for a few minutes will inform readers as to "Why ritualism is not true worship" and other related topics.

With this in mind it seemed to me a happy co-incidence that the same organisation chose yesterday to publish a press release entitled 'Anglo Catholic and Evangelical Bishops back launch of FCA UK' on their Evangelicals.org site. The FCA is the 'Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans', a continuation of the conservative 'GAFCON movement, which will be launched on Monday at Westminster Central Hall. From that press release:

Leading Anglo Catholic Bishop, Keith Ackerman, will lead a main session on how FCA is a catalyst for united mission, ministry and focus for both orthodox Anglicans, be they evangelical or Anglo Catholic.

David Phillips of the Church Society recognises that, as far as Anglo Catholic practice is concerned, "there is a serious problem to be addressed sooner or later by GAFCON" (What we do matters, pdf). A topic of conversation for lunchtime on Monday perhaps.

back to June 2009

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