Church Society
Encyclopedia
Church Society is a conservative evangelical Anglican organisation, and registered charity, formed in 1950 by the merger of the Anglican Church Association
(founded 1865) and National Church League (founded 1906 by amalgamation of two earlier bodies).
The journal of Church Society is Churchman
(est 1879). Editors have included Henry Wace and Philip Edgecumbe Hughes
, its current Editor is Professor Gerald Bray
.
Defenders of Protestant Anglicanism associated with the Society include J. C. Ryle, J. T. Tomlinson, W. H. Griffith-Thomas
, Henry Wace, William Joynson-Hicks
(Home Secretary), Geoffrey Bromiley
, Philip Edgecumbe Hughes
, J. I. Packer
, Alan Stibbs, John Stott
and Alec Motyer.
The original forebear of the Church Society was the Protestant Association (founded 1835). The forebears of the Society were established in the 19th Century to oppose the introduction of Anglo-Catholic
doctrine into the Church of England through bodies such as the Oxford Movement
and The Church Union
.
The Church Association
, founded in 1865 by Richard P. Blakeney
, stated in its first annual report that the objectives of the Association were:
“To uphold the principles and order of the United Church of England and Ireland, and to counteract the efforts now being made to assimilate her services to those of the Church of Rome."
As well as publishing information (including its Church Association Tracts) and holding public meetings, controversially, this also involved instigating legal action against Anglo-Catholics. According to the Association this was intended to clarify the law , however the ritualists refusal to comply with the courts verdicts, coupled with the bishops unwillingness to act, eventually led to such legal action not being pursued.
In 1928 the National Church League, led by its treasurer William Joynson-Hicks
(Home Secretary), was successful in Parliament in resisting attempted Anglo-Catholic doctrinal change to the 1928 Prayer Book
.
The Society (and its forebears) have published theological literature since the 19th Century, including the Church Association Tracts (several of which were written by J. C. Ryle), and its journal, Churchman
. Most of the Society's 20th Century titles, including works by W. H. Griffith Thomas
, (pictured below) were produced under its publishing arm, Church Book Room Press (CBRP), and from the 1970s, Vine Books .
In 1950 the Church Association
and National Church League merged to form Church Society.
According to its Memorandum the main objective of Church Society is:
To maintain the doctrine and worship of the Church of England as set forth in the 39 Articles of Religion, and the Book of Common Prayer [pictured], as reviewed and adopted in 1662, and to uphold the supreme and exclusive sufficiency and authority of Holy Scripture as containing all things necessary for salvation.
which led to it opposing the appointment of the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams
, and also the appointment of Jeffrey John as Dean of St Albans. The Society also works with other Christian groups on issues of similar interest, including Reform
and the Protestant Truth Society
. The Society has also critiqued inter-denominational theological movements including theological liberalism and some aspects of the charismatic movement
.
Trust) the Society is involved in the appointment of evangelical clergy in 117 Anglican churches, including St John the Baptist, Hartford Cheshire (pictured), and Christ Church, Dusseldorf
(pictured) , members' magazine Cross†Way ; An English Prayer Book (a contemporary Anglican liturgy in the tradition of the Book of Common Prayer
); and The Principles of Theology (an exposition of the Thirty-Nine Articles
by W.H. Griffith Thomas
). In 2010 the Society established the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Library (REAL) - a project to re-publish evangelical Anglican texts from past Anglicans (including the sermons of George Whitefield
).
. After previously being located in central London, the Society's headquarters are now situated at Dean Wace House, Watford
, UK.
Church Association
The Church Association was an English evangelical Anglican organisation, founded in 1865.It was particularly active in opposition to Anglo-Catholicism, Ritualism and the Oxford Movement.Founded in 1865 by Richard P...
(founded 1865) and National Church League (founded 1906 by amalgamation of two earlier bodies).
The journal of Church Society is Churchman
Churchman (journal)
Churchman is an evangelical Anglican academic journal published by the Church Society. It was formerly known as The Churchman and started as a monthly periodical before moving to quarterly publication in 1920. The editor-in-chief is Gerald Bray....
(est 1879). Editors have included Henry Wace and Philip Edgecumbe Hughes
Philip Edgecumbe Hughes
Philip Edgcumbe Hughes was an Anglican clergyman and New Testament scholar.Dr. Hughes was born in Australia and received his B.A., M.A., and D.L.H. from the University of Cape Town, B.D. from the University of London, and Th.D. from the Australian College of Theology. From 1947 to 1953 Hughes...
, its current Editor is Professor Gerald Bray
Gerald Bray
Gerald L. Bray is an English theologian and church historian. From 1993 to 2006 he taught at Beeson Divinity School, where he is now a research professor. He is the editor of the Churchman journal. His book, Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present was one of Christianity Today's books of the...
.
Defenders of Protestant Anglicanism associated with the Society include J. C. Ryle, J. T. Tomlinson, W. H. Griffith-Thomas
William Henry Griffith Thomas
William Henry Griffith Thomas was an Anglican clergyman and scholar from the English-Welsh border country. He has been quoted by theologian Alister McGrath in the science-versus-religion debate.-Life and work:...
, Henry Wace, William Joynson-Hicks
William Joynson-Hicks, 1st Viscount Brentford
William Joynson-Hicks, 1st Viscount Brentford PC, PC , DL , known as Sir William Joynson-Hicks, Bt, from 1919 to 1929 and popularly known as Jix, was an English solicitor and Conservative Party politician, best known as a long-serving and controversial Home Secretary from 1924 to 1929, during which...
(Home Secretary), Geoffrey Bromiley
Geoffrey W. Bromiley
Geoffrey W. Bromiley was a church historian and historical theologian. He was professor emeritus at Fuller Theological Seminary, having been...
, Philip Edgecumbe Hughes
Philip Edgecumbe Hughes
Philip Edgcumbe Hughes was an Anglican clergyman and New Testament scholar.Dr. Hughes was born in Australia and received his B.A., M.A., and D.L.H. from the University of Cape Town, B.D. from the University of London, and Th.D. from the Australian College of Theology. From 1947 to 1953 Hughes...
, J. I. Packer
J. I. Packer
James Innell Packer is a British-born Canadian Christian theologian in the low church Anglican and Reformed traditions. He currently serves as the Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia...
, Alan Stibbs, John Stott
John Stott
John Robert Walmsley Stott CBE was an English Christian leader and Anglican cleric who was noted as a leader of the worldwide Evangelical movement. He was one of the principal authors of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974...
and Alec Motyer.
History and Forebears
Anglo-Catholicism
The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism describe people, beliefs and practices within Anglicanism that affirm the Catholic, rather than Protestant, heritage and identity of the Anglican churches....
doctrine into the Church of England through bodies such as the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
and The Church Union
The Church Union
The Church Union is an Anglo-Catholic advocacy group within the Church of England.The organisation was founded as the Church of England Protection Society on May 12, 1859 to challenge the authority of the English civil courts to determine questions of doctrine...
.
The Church Association
Church Association
The Church Association was an English evangelical Anglican organisation, founded in 1865.It was particularly active in opposition to Anglo-Catholicism, Ritualism and the Oxford Movement.Founded in 1865 by Richard P...
, founded in 1865 by Richard P. Blakeney
Richard Paul Blakeney
Richard Paul Blakeney was an Irish-born religious writer and cleric.Blakeney was descended from an old Norfolk family, which had removed to Ireland before his birth. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A. in 1842, taking high honours in theology. In 1852 he proceeded...
, stated in its first annual report that the objectives of the Association were:
“To uphold the principles and order of the United Church of England and Ireland, and to counteract the efforts now being made to assimilate her services to those of the Church of Rome."
As well as publishing information (including its Church Association Tracts) and holding public meetings, controversially, this also involved instigating legal action against Anglo-Catholics. According to the Association this was intended to clarify the law , however the ritualists refusal to comply with the courts verdicts, coupled with the bishops unwillingness to act, eventually led to such legal action not being pursued.
In 1928 the National Church League, led by its treasurer William Joynson-Hicks
William Joynson-Hicks, 1st Viscount Brentford
William Joynson-Hicks, 1st Viscount Brentford PC, PC , DL , known as Sir William Joynson-Hicks, Bt, from 1919 to 1929 and popularly known as Jix, was an English solicitor and Conservative Party politician, best known as a long-serving and controversial Home Secretary from 1924 to 1929, during which...
(Home Secretary), was successful in Parliament in resisting attempted Anglo-Catholic doctrinal change to the 1928 Prayer Book
1928 Prayer Book
The 1928 Prayer Book was approved in 1927 by the Church Assembly of the Church of England but its authorization was defeated in the House of Commons on 14 June 1928. In 1966, with some changes, it was authorized as legal for public worship, as the First Series of Alternative Services...
.
The Society (and its forebears) have published theological literature since the 19th Century, including the Church Association Tracts (several of which were written by J. C. Ryle), and its journal, Churchman
Churchman
Typically refers to a member of the clergy. It may also refer to:*English Churchman, a family Protestant newspaper that was founded in 1843*Churchman , theological journal, formerly known as The Churchman...
. Most of the Society's 20th Century titles, including works by W. H. Griffith Thomas
William Henry Griffith Thomas
William Henry Griffith Thomas was an Anglican clergyman and scholar from the English-Welsh border country. He has been quoted by theologian Alister McGrath in the science-versus-religion debate.-Life and work:...
, (pictured below) were produced under its publishing arm, Church Book Room Press (CBRP), and from the 1970s, Vine Books .
In 1950 the Church Association
Church Association
The Church Association was an English evangelical Anglican organisation, founded in 1865.It was particularly active in opposition to Anglo-Catholicism, Ritualism and the Oxford Movement.Founded in 1865 by Richard P...
and National Church League merged to form Church Society.
Present Day
According to its website the Society seeks to uphold its objectives through campaigning, patronage, publishing, conferences and the administration of charitable trusts and properties.According to its Memorandum the main objective of Church Society is:
To maintain the doctrine and worship of the Church of England as set forth in the 39 Articles of Religion, and the Book of Common Prayer [pictured], as reviewed and adopted in 1662, and to uphold the supreme and exclusive sufficiency and authority of Holy Scripture as containing all things necessary for salvation.
Campaigning
The Society issues occasional press releases which, according to its website, seeks to present 'a clear biblical perspective on issues affecting both the Church of England and the nation'. The Society has been active in opposing women's ordination (it failed in its legal attempt to overturn the 1992 decision to ordain women as priests) and consecration as bishops . It has also taken a conservative position among Anglican views of homosexualityAnglican views of homosexuality
Since the 1990s, the Anglican Communion has struggled with controversy regarding homosexuality in the church. In 1998, the 13th Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops passed a resolution stating that homosexual acts are "incompatible with Scripture". In 2002, the Diocese of New Westminster, in the...
which led to it opposing the appointment of the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
, and also the appointment of Jeffrey John as Dean of St Albans. The Society also works with other Christian groups on issues of similar interest, including Reform
Reform (Anglican)
Reform is an Evangelical organisation within Anglicanism, active in the Church of England and the Church of Ireland. Reform in England describes itself as a "network of churches and individuals within the Church of England, committed to the reform of ourselves, our congregation and our world by the...
and the Protestant Truth Society
Protestant Truth Society
The Protestant Truth Society is a charity and campaigning organisation that seeks to promote the Protestant faith in the UK, both in spiritual and doctrinal matters, and in the way that the country is governed...
. The Society has also critiqued inter-denominational theological movements including theological liberalism and some aspects of the charismatic movement
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
.
Patronage
Through its patronage body Church Society Trust (prior to 1950, Church AssociationChurch Association
The Church Association was an English evangelical Anglican organisation, founded in 1865.It was particularly active in opposition to Anglo-Catholicism, Ritualism and the Oxford Movement.Founded in 1865 by Richard P...
Trust) the Society is involved in the appointment of evangelical clergy in 117 Anglican churches, including St John the Baptist, Hartford Cheshire (pictured), and Christ Church, Dusseldorf
Publishing
The Society today publishes its journal ChurchmanChurchman (journal)
Churchman is an evangelical Anglican academic journal published by the Church Society. It was formerly known as The Churchman and started as a monthly periodical before moving to quarterly publication in 1920. The editor-in-chief is Gerald Bray....
(pictured) , members' magazine Cross†Way ; An English Prayer Book (a contemporary Anglican liturgy in the tradition of the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
); and The Principles of Theology (an exposition of the Thirty-Nine Articles
Thirty-Nine Articles
The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion are the historically defining statements of doctrines of the Anglican church with respect to the controversies of the English Reformation. First established in 1563, the articles served to define the doctrine of the nascent Church of England as it related to...
by W.H. Griffith Thomas
William Henry Griffith Thomas
William Henry Griffith Thomas was an Anglican clergyman and scholar from the English-Welsh border country. He has been quoted by theologian Alister McGrath in the science-versus-religion debate.-Life and work:...
). In 2010 the Society established the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Library (REAL) - a project to re-publish evangelical Anglican texts from past Anglicans (including the sermons of George Whitefield
George Whitefield
George Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
).
Administration
The Society's administration of charitable trusts and properties includes a fund to provide financial support for convalescing children and a fund to assist Anglican Ordinands. The Society developed the youth network CYFA and Pathfinders and also co-ordinated the work of Diocesan Evangelical Unions/Fellowships. The Society holds an annual conference and other occasional meetings. The Society is run by an elected council (voted by its members annually), the President of the Society is Viscount BrentfordViscount Brentford
Viscount Brentford, of Newick in the County of Sussex, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1929 for the Conservative politician Sir William Joynson-Hicks, 1st Baronet, chiefly remembered for his tenure as Home Secretary from 1924 to 1929. He had already been created a...
. After previously being located in central London, the Society's headquarters are now situated at Dean Wace House, Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
, UK.