'As too much to slight their duties': a Hackney Phalanx sermon critiques populist evangelicalism

Today begins a series of extracts from an 1814 collection of sermons by Christopher Wordsworth (senior, d.1846). In 1814, Wordsworth was Dean of Bocking; he would be Master of Trinity, Cambridge from 1820-41. He was associated with the Hackney Phalanx and was a chaplain to Archbishop of Canterbury Charles Manners-Sutton. Indeed, this volume was warmly dedicated to the Archbishop's son (to whom he had been tutor), then Judge Advocate General in the administration of Lord Liverpool.

As a recent excellent study of Liverpool has demonstrated, he was guided by and supportive of the Hackney Phalanx in his ecclesiastical policies. It was on the Archbishop's recommendation that Liverpool appointed Wordsworth Master of Trinity. In other words, we can regard this collection of sermons as expressive of the teaching and piety of the Hackney Phalanx.

In this extract, Wordsworth offers a critique of populist evangelicalism and revivalism, reflecting characteristic Old High concerns:

some, considering what great things God has done for mankind, are so occupied in the contemplation of these, as too much to slight their duties. In their reliance on the love of the Father, the merits of the Redeemer, the free gifts of the Sanctifier, they are too prone to forget that it is the will of the united Godhead, that without obedience and holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Some, building upon the awful truth of the eternal election of God, in the contemplation of this purpose of love exerted upon them, even before the world was, neglect too much to give diligence to make their calling and election sure, through those things, which if they do they shall never fall. Another description, being, as they trust, once purged by the blood of Christ, dream that they can be no more unclean; and being brought under grace, hold themselves on that account free from the bondage of the law. And others gain, rejoicing in the freedom of the promises of the Gospel, are too prone to undervalue the instituted means and ordinances of grace, the reading or preaching of the word, the ministry of exhortation, prayer, and the Sacraments.

Comments

Why I support the ordination of women: a High Church reflection

A number of commenters on this blog have asked about my occasional expressions of support for the ordination of women to all three orders. With some hesitation, I have decided to post a summary of my own views on this matter. The hesitation is because I have sought on this blog to focus on issues and themes which can unify those who identify with or have respect (grudging or otherwise!) for what we might term 'classical' Anglicanism (the Anglicanism of the Formularies and - yes - of the Old High Church tradition). Some oppose the ordination of women (and I have friends and colleagues who do so, Anglo-Catholic, High Church, and Reformed Evangelical). Some of us support it (again, friends and colleagues covering a wide range of theological traditions). Below, I have organised my thinking around 5 points (needless to say, no reference to Dort is implied). 1. The Declaration for Subscription required of clergy in the Church of Ireland states: (6) I promise to submit ...

How the Old High tradition continued

Charles Gore's 1914 letter to the clergy of his diocese, ' The Basis of Anglican Fellowship ', can be regarded as a classical expression of the Prayer Book Catholic tradition. A key part of the letter - entitled 'Romanizing in the Church of England' - addressed the "Catholic movement", questioning beliefs and practices within it which tended to "a position which makes it very difficult for its extremer representatives to give an intelligible reason why they are not Roman Catholics". Gore provides the outlines of an alternative account and experience of catholicity within Anglicanism, defined by three characteristics. What is particularly interesting about these characteristics is their continuity with the older High Church tradition. Indeed, the central characteristic as set out by Gore was integral to High Church claims over centuries: To accept the Anglican position as valid, in any sense, is to appeal behind the Pope and the authority of t...

1928 practices and the 1979 book: unthinking conservatism or popular piety?

Those responsible for Earth & Altar - a new blog emanating from a group within TEC - are to be congratulated for an excellent contribution to wider Anglican discussion and debate. The commitment to "an expansively conceived credal orthodoxy as fully compatible with LGBTQ inclusion, gender equality, and racial justice" is an important part of a wider retrieval of creedal orthodoxy within what we might call the post-liberal generation. It is in this spirit that I want to respond to a recent post on the site by Andrew McGowan , Dean of the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and Professor of Anglican Studies at Yale Divinity School. Against the background of another round of "ill-defined" liturgical revision in TEC, he understandably urges that a fuller reception of the 1979 BCP should occur before further reforms. In doing so, however, he takes aim at what he describes as "clinging to the ritual structures of 1928" while using the text of 1979. We ...

laudable Practice

Search This Blog