Outline:
Preamble:
- Reference in some Anglo-Catholic Circles to "the Elizabethan Tradition"
- Does the Elizabethan Prayer Book (1559 BCP) reflect an Anglo-Catholic Understanding in the Eucharist?
- To understand Elizabethan Church of England, need to understand what came before
- Note on the term Anglo-Catholic
- Siblings in Christ in England simply use Catholic
- catholic literally means "universal"
- Reference to the wider Body of Christ beyond denominations
- We we say this word in the Creed
- Catholic also refers to a focus on sacramental theology
- Other group in Church of England would be Evangelicals
- Those whose focus is on spreading the Gospel (evangelizing)
- Each group has Expansionists and Traditionalists
- Expansionists look to expand our understanding
- Traditionalists wish to adhere to a tradition
- Many traditions that this could be
- America use to differentiate from the Roman Catholic Church
- Roman Catholicism is a denomination
- Two Correct ways to refer to the denomination:
- Roman Catholic Church
- Roman Church
- Shouldn't forget that "catholic" refers to more than a denomination
- Others have claim to it, accept your claim
Issues from the Medieval Church:
- Lots of local variants pop up for how to worship
- Includes Eucharist
- Liturgical actions are developed that later have to be rationalized
- Clergy start to be less well educated
- Clergy start to celebrate Eucharist solo
- Where the "I believe" version of the Creed comes from
- Unfortunate since Eucharist is meant to be celebrated as a Community
- Communion means "in common"
- Concern with spilling wine
- Worry comes from Eucharistic understanding
- Latin: not the vernacular language
- Thought some would have been understood by laity, though not all
- Result: Eucharist becomes more of a performance
- Some come and only stay for the elevation
- Have boards that are held up with pictures of bread and wine
- Say this is enough to communicate people
English Reformation:
- Henry VIII
- Title of English Crown: "Defender of the Faith"
- Granted by Pope
- Wrote treatise against Martin Luther
- Wants a male heir
- Asks for divorce
- Claims issue is he married his brother's wife
- Normally would have been allowed, political issues
- Catherine is nephew to the Holy Roman Emperor
- Previous Pope had given dispensation for marriage
- Henry VIII claims he is ruler of state and church in England
- Excommunicates Pope
- Cranmer appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury and allows for divorce
- Note: important to own our origins
- No Church, let alone denomination, is perfect
- Strength we have is that we cannot pretend to have a perfect start
- Thomas Cranmer
- Part of a group in Cambridge who were supportive of the Protestant Reformation
- Henry VIII's divorce provides the chance to bring Protestant ideals to England
- Henry VIII's piety was still Catholic, allowed a lot because of Cranmer's support
- Edward VI followed his father, The Book of Common Prayer was written at this time
- Cranmer made incremental changes, 2 BCPs during his lifetime
- One in 1549, one in 1552
- First started with Latin/English hybrid
- 1549 BCP- all English, meant to ease from Latin Mass
- 1552 BCP- much bigger changes
Coming soon: a look at Cranmer's Prayer Books and the structure for Eucharist