The Church of England, Its Catholicity and Continuity

by Herbert Pole

The Church of England:

ITS CATHOLICITY AND CONTINUITY

Seven Lectures

by the

Rev. Herbert Pole

(M.A. Oxon; Assistant Curate of Bexley Heath)

London:
Skeffington & Son, Piccadilly, W.
Publishers to H.M. the Queen and to H.R.H the Prince of Wales
1899.

PREFACE.

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These Lectures are printed at the request of many of those who heard them delivered, and they appear in the present form without having undergone any alteration. Their object is to bring before the public the significance of certain epochs in the history of the Church, and not to give a complete account of all the subjects with which they deal. It will be noticed that quotations are freely used where they support an opinion or strengthen an important point. So much is this the case that several of these Lectures may be looked upon merely as compilations.

The author must express indebtedness of the labours of the Rev. A. H. Hore. "The History of the Church of England" has furnished him with much of the material of the earlier Lectures, and "The Church in England from William III. to Victoria" has been closely followed in the Lecture dealing with the Oxford Movement.

The preface to this last work states that Mr. Hore offers his book to the public "as a contribution to the cause of Church Defence." I am glad to have this opportunity of expressing my gratitude for his labours, and I desire to assure him that they were not thrown away.

H.P.

Bexley Heath.

CONTENTS.

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LECTURE I.

PAGE

THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

Introduction. The Early Britons. Introduction of the Faith to the Britons. Roman Soldiers. Gaul and Britain. S. Alban. Council of Arles. Result of Saxon Invasion. Influence of British Church on Ireland and Scotland. Re-conversion of Britain. Gregory and the Slaves. S. Augustine. His Mission. Augustine and British Bishops. Northumbria and Paulinus. Edwin and Heathenism. Failure of the Mission. Oswald and the British Church. Controversy between the Britons and the Roman Mission. Wilfrid. Colman. Theodore at Canterbury. His Work. Council at Hertford. Theodore's independent action.

LECTURE II.

THE PAPAL USURPATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

31

Outline of the Church's fortunes between Theodore and William the Conqueror. Growth of Papal Power. Canute and Rome. Dunstan. The Conqueror asks the Pope's help. William and Peter's pence. Lanfranc. Anselm and Rufus. Henry I. and Anselm. Thomas a Becket. His quarrel with the King. King John and the Pope. Stephen Langton. The Interdict. Opposition to the Pope's claims. Secret Society. Deputation to the Pope. England's sufferings. Work of Grosseteste. Simon de Montfort. Edward I. and Parliament. John XXII. and his demands. John Wycliffe.

LECTURE III.

PAGE

THE REFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

63

Did the Church break from the past? Causes of Reformation. Papal aggression. State of Morality. Continental Protestantism. Revival of Learning. The Divorce. Religious character of Henry. Acts of Reformation. Supremacy. Destruction of Monasteries. Doctrinal reforms. Bible. Ten Articles. Liturgy. Edward VI. His reforms. Book of Homilies. The Prayer Books. Forty-two Articles. Controversy on Vestments and Altar. Re-action under Mary. Doctrinal test. Persecution. Elizabeth. The Reformers. Supremacy. Mary's work undone. Episcopal Ordination. Thirty-nine Articles. The Romanists. The benefits of the Reformation. Services in common tongue. Pope's power over the Church of England destroyed. Gift of Prayer Book and Articles of Religion. Continuity of Church of England.

LECTURE IV.

THE PURITAN USURPATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

95

Puritan principles. Love for Bible. Origin of the Puritans. Continental Reformers. Puritans and Elizabeth. Vestments. Uniformity. Cartwright. Grindal and the Puritans and Elizabeth. James I. Millenary Petition. Conference at Hampton Court. Puritans and Doctrine. Church Government. James' opinion of them. Increase of Puritans. Charles I. Puritans in Parliament. Westminster Assembly. Prayer Book condemned. Penalties. Thirty-nine Articles superseded. The Puritan rule and National disgust. Puritan persecution. The intolerance of Puritans. Southey's testimony. Puritan desecration of Cathedrals. S. Paul's, Westminster, Lambeth, etc. Abuse of the Pulpit. The Restoration. The Reaction.

LECTURE V.

PAGE

REPRESENTATIVE CHURCHMEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

125

Growth of Calvinism. Party in Church to oppose it. (1) Andrewes. Birth. Education. Youth. At Cambridge. Studies. Preferment. Andrewes and King James. Bishop. Advice to Clergy on Pastoral work and right living. Bishop's character. Andrewes and Roman Catholics. His Sermons and Meditations. Cultivated tastes. (2) Laud. His times. Opposes Puritans. Love of learning. Preferment. Decisive character. Church principles. Ritual. Laud on Calvinism. Scotland. Star Chamber. Puritans his bitter enemies. Imprisonment. Death. Laud's character. Was he a Papist? His refutation of the Jesuit Fisher. Rome's view of his death. Laud's own opinions. Cause of his persecution. Holy Table. Scotland. Laud's sincerity. Southey's testimony. His courage on the scaffold. The Puritans pervert his diary. Laud's complaint. His religious spirit. Prays for his enemies.

LECTURE VI.

THE OXFORD MOVEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

157

Short Account of the Church from the Restoration to 1833. Charles II. James II. William and Mary. Anne. The time of the Georges. Church life at this time. State of Church in 1833. Oriel College, Oxford. Leaders of Movement. Their views. Hadleigh Rectory. The Tracts. Newman. Keble's Sermon. Association formed. Its object. Teaching of the Tracts. Movement outside Oxford. Tractarians and Dr. Hampden. Tract 90. Its Teaching. Considered by Heads of Colleges. Opposition to the Movement. Newman's influence at S. Mary's. New Centres. London. Leeds. Hook's Sermon on the Church. Pusey's Sermon. Split in the Party. Secession of Newman and others. His opinion on the English Church and Anglican Orders. Keble and Newman.

LECTURE VII.

PAGE

GROWTH OF CHURCH LIFE DURING THE LAST SIXTY YEARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

185

Renewed Life of the Church. Attractive Services. Opposition to changes. Church Restoration. New Societies formed. Ritual Commission. Public Worship Regulation Act. Incumbents' Resignation Act. Dilapidations. Burial Laws. Tithe Act. Clergy Discipline. Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Their work. Cathedral Acts. Episcopal Act. Convocation. Essays and Reviews. Conferences and Synods. Pan-Anglican Councils. Colenzo's work on Pentateuch. Creation of Bishoprics in England. Abroad. Theological Colleges. Voluntary offerings of the people. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners' valuable work. Suffragan Bishops. Church progress certain. Parish Magazine. "Parties" in the Church. The Church differs from Dissent on (1) organization; (2) matters of doctrine. Is the Church Catholic? Church Endowments. The spirit of Dissent and of the Church contrasted. The attitude of the Church towards Dissent. Conclusion.