laudable Practice

Over the past year or so, laudable Practice has been pondering if a New Elizabethan Anglicanism can be envisaged: an expression of Anglicanism flowing from the Elizabethan Settlement and mindful of how Elizabeth II embodied an Anglican piety with contemporary resonance .  My first attempt to outline what this might mean pointed to "the dignified simplicity of BCP, emphasis on moderation and reserve, Anglican patrimony in music and architecture, recognising the goodness of civic duties". Following the death of Her late Majesty, some notable thoughts and reflections from others should be considered by those supportive of the idea of a New Elizabethan vision. To be clear, I am not saying that the authors explored in this post would necessarily support such a New Elizabethan stance: I am, however, proposing that their thoughts should contribute to the discussion. Alison Milbank's excellent article "May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest": Elizabeth II and the...

No. The answer is definitively 'no'. The answer is definitely 'no' because purgatory is, for historic Anglicanism, an erroneous teaching. The question arises from a recent article on the Roman Catholic news and information website Aleteia suggesting that "Anglicanism has no binding teaching on the matter" because the Articles of Religion have no standing and that Anglicans praying for the departed Queen were affirming the doctrine of purgatory. This, to use an appropriate phrase, is a "a fond thing, vainly invented". While the Articles of Religion do not bind the Anglican conscience, for most Anglican provinces they remain a statement of historic doctrinal norms.  Even in The Episcopal Church, after all, the Articles are placed alongside the Definition of Chalcedon, with the note that the Articles were "established by the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, on the...

A reflection on praying with the Book of Common Prayer during the time of national mourning and the King's accession. O Lord, save the King. For the last time in my life, I prayed the petition 'O Lord, save the Queen' at Evensong on 8th September. Before Mattins on 9th September, following the example of Anglican clergy in these Islands over centuries at the beginning of a new reign, I carefully wrote into this petition 'the King', and changed the name of the Sovereign in the state prayers.   I was very aware that any Anglican and Episcopalian in the United Kingdom, and praying the daily offices according to the Book of Common Prayer, was doing the same thing.  The new reign was beginning with our prayer for the King across "all the whole realm", a prayer that would be offered each day, morning and evening.   O Lord, save the King. The word has multiple meanings.  Save the King in this time of grief, upholding and sustaining him.  Save the King amidst...

During this time of national mourning, words from Jeremy Taylor, originally addressed to Princess Mary, daughter of the Royal Martyr, are fittingly applied to the second Elizabeth: for a long time, your devotion hath been eminent, your obedience to the strictest rules of religion hath been humble and diligent, even up to a great example, and that the service of God hath been your great care and greatest employment; your name hath been dear and highly honourable amongst the sons and daughters of the church of England: and we no more envy to Hungary the great name of St. Elizabeth, to Scotland the glorious memory of St. Margaret, to France the triumph of the piety of St. Genevieve, nor St. Katharine to Italy, since in your royal person we have so great an example of our own, one of the family of saints. Posts on laudable Practice will resume after the period of national mourning. God Save the King.

Perhaps the most striking part of the ' Forms of Prayers with Thanksgiving to Almighty God ' appointed for Accession Day, 6th February, is the Te Deum which opens the service which "may also be used on the same day at any convenient time".  This ancient, solemn Christian hymn of thanksgiving, centred around the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation, is used to give thanks on the anniversary of the monarch's accession to the throne.  Contrary to what some might suggest, this is an appropriate use of the Te Deum, a reminder that the doctrines which it celebrates - of the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation - have significance and meaning beyond a narrowly ecclesial frame of reference. The first section of the Te Deum is a celebration of the Holy Trinity as Creator: "all the earth doth worship thee ... Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty: of thy glory".  Common life in the polity is part of this created order.  Hooker reminds us that "the cause of men...

While most of us were still tucking into festive mince pies on 27th December, the Bishop-elect of the Diocese of British Columbia in the Anglican Church of Canada  took to Twitter to chastise the United Conservative Party of Alberta, the governing party in that province (the UCP won the 2019 election with 54% of the vote, to the Opposition NDP's 33%).  What had the UCP done to deserve such a public rebuke from a Bishop-elect?   The UCP had quoted Scripture in a Christmas Tweet .  Yes, this was the offence.   Now one might have thought that an Anglican Bishop-elect could have quietly approved of a political party speaking in the public square in a manner which reflected the truth that Christmas is not merely a social and commercial festival but is rooted in the celebration of the Incarnation (with all of its consequences for our common life and respecting the dignity of all).  But no.  The Bishop-elect strongly disapproved. She did so on two ...