Turning Points by Mark A. Noll

Author:Mark A. Noll
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REL015000, church history
ISBN: 9781441238801
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2017-04-29T04:00:00+00:00

Attention to Henry VIII’s Act of Supremacy should be a reminder that during the Reformation, as in all eras, prominent changes in the structures of the church were not the same as enduring spiritual contributions. Dramatic testimony to that reality can be found in the historical influence of Henry’s archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer (1489–1556). Henry no doubt thought of him primarily as a faithful servant of the Crown. Loyal Catholics considered him a conniving opponent of the One True Church. Fervent Protestants honored him for the courage he displayed in facing execution by fire under Catholic Queen Mary. But for most of the generations since Cranmer’s own day, his influence has lived on through the liturgical materials he prepared for the reformed English church, most especially for the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. That great repository of prayers, responses, biblical readings, and settings for baptism and Communion has had a profound impact wherever Anglican or Episcopal churches were established and far beyond. A prayer for unity that Cranmer composed for the annual Anglican service marking the accession of the current monarch is a fitting closing to a chapter focusing mostly on how events in the sixteenth century divided the Western church.

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly Union and Concord: that, as there is but one Body, and one Spirit, and one Hope of our Calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may henceforth be all of one heart, and of one soul, united in one holy bond of Truth and Peace, of Faith and Charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.