Ryle, J.C. Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. Eds. Graham Hind and Mary Davis. Evangelical Press, 2024. Seven-volume set. Where does one begin reviewing a set of books that have existed for over 150 years? The first Bishop of Liverpool, J.C. Ryle, published his set of commentaries, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, between 1856 and 1873. As a…
St. Oswald: the Evangelist King
After a period of embracing Christianity, people in Northumbria returned to the Pagan beliefs they held before the gospel first reached the British shores. It would take a young Christian king returning from exile with a zeal for evangelism to begin a revival of faith that would last for centuries.
Three Creeds, Four Councils, Five Centuries (Andrewes’ Principle Pt. 2)
We continue with our second in a series on Lancelot Andrewes’ principle of Anglican belief (read the first installment here): One canon reduced to writing by God himself, two testaments, three creeds, four general councils, five centuries, and the series of Fathers in that period—the centuries, that is, before Constantine, and two after, determine the…
Review Roundup: Deep Anglicanism
While not without criticism, our reviewers found McDermott’s volume to be both accessible and deep. It brings the richness of Anglicanism’s deep history, including its ancient pre-Reformation roots, to bear on our beliefs and practices.
Book Review: Deep Anglicanism by Gerald McDermott
In Deep Anglicanism, McDermott dives into his own vision of this tradition, rooted in the church’s broad history.
Book Review: A New History of Redemption
Few scholars could even attempt to write a book like A New History of Redemption, Gerald McDermott’s recent work of near-comprehensive theological history. McDermott borrows the title and structure from an unfinished project of Jonathan Edwards, the 18th-century Puritan, who outlined the project but did not live to complete it. And no wonder: Edwards’ idea…
A Holy Place: Preserving Historic Churches
A few weeks ago, my church took a field trip—one that went over the road and almost 200 years into the past. A small group of us met in one of our village’s oldest buildings, a tiny stone chapel constructed in 1853 to serve the tiny population of English settlers who’d brought their faith with…
Independence Day: A Rookie Anglican Guide
The 4th of July, American Independence Day, is both a celebration of American political liberty and a universal commemoration of God’s priority over government. On this day, we remember that human laws are evaluated by the standard of God’s law, not the other way around. The Collect Lord God, by your providence our founders won…
St. Alban: First Martyr of Britain
Alban stands as a reminder of the radical change God can bring about in a person’s life and the way he may use even the most ordinary among us in a brief time.
One Canon, Two Testaments (Andrewes’ Principle, Pt. 1)
Anglicans stand on “One canon reduced to writing by God himself, two testaments…”
The Axe of St. Boniface and the Virtue of Discretion
Saint Boniface, the 8th-century English bishop, missionary to Germany, and martyr, was a master of discretion. Guided by the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, he knew the importance of choosing the right action at the right time. Boniface knew when to take up the axe, and he knew when to put it down. The Discretion…
Standing Firm in God’s Love with Athanasius
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:8 “God is love.” This is a sentiment that we all, well, love. We love to say it, and we love to believe it. But what does it mean? Love implies a relationship between two or more persons. And…
