Customer Reviews

Anglicanism

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Stephen Neill writes as historian, theologian and Anglican Bishop. He provides a more than adequate narrative of the history of Anglicanism that includes fairly in-depth writing of the conflicts of the early history of the Reformation in England. He provides good but brief introductions to the major figures in Anglicanism. This is introductory writing of the whole general scope of Anglicanism.

Neill also provides introductions and summaries of the history of the globalization of Anglicanism. Through the book, readers will get a sense of the theology, structures and ongoing tensions within the Anglican Communion while also getting a flowing historical narrative.

Stephen Neill's "Anglicanism" remains a valuable historical introduction to Anglicanism. While more contemporary works deal with what's become of Anglicanism in a way that Neill's book does not (having first been written more than 50 years ago), "Anglicanism" is still an important work. In fact, if you want to understand Anglicanism, it's still one of the best places to start.

The subtitle of Neill's works is "An Explanation, in the light of history and theology, of the nature and working of the Anglican Communion, its relationship with other Christian groups, and its part in the movement for Christian union." As you can see from the subtitle, although "Anglicanism" is primarily historical in nature, Neill manages to weave in good discussions of theology and helps the reader to understand the place of Anglicanism in the larger Christian Church. Neill was among the first to understand the importance of the global nature of Anglicanism, and not just the Anglo-American side of things. His background as an Anglican bishop, lecturer, evangelist, and worker with the World Council of Churches made Neill an ideal person to write such a book.

When I first became serious about studying Anglicanism, this book was one of the first places I turned, and it gave me a solid foundation that I've built on over the years. After my first reading of the book I was especially impressed by Neill's easy-to-read style and his ability to convey the most important historical details in an engaging narrative. His presentation of the Reformation as being composed of several distinct kinds of Reformation was particularly insightful.

I highly recommend this book, along with Moorman's "A History of the Church in England" as historical introductions to Anglicanism.

Neill breaks down his discussion into the following chapters:

1. Beginnings
2. Reconstruction
3. Revolution
4. Counter-Revolution
5. Reformation
6. The Seventeenth Century
7. The Eighteenth Century
8. Anglicans Abroad
9. The Nineteenth Century in England: 1
10. The Nineteenth Century in England: 1
11. Expansion into the English-Speaking World
12. A Missionary Church
13. A World-Wide Communion
Epilogue: Present Situation and Prospects

This is an enjoyable read that traces the history of Anglicanism from its Reformation beginnings and then goes on to discuss it in light of High, Low and Broad Church parties and their respective influence and then Anglicanism's ecumenical relations around the globe. Stephen Neill is always a pleasure to read even though some readers would prefer a High Church/Anglo-Catholic take and some would prefer a Low Church/Evangelical take on Anglicanism. Neill is neither High nor Low Church, but gives a respectful presentation of what I would call "middle of the road" traditional and ecumenical Anglicanism. One should really read this presentation of Anglicanism along with Norman Sykes's "The Integrity of Anglicanism" and McAdoo's "The Spirit of Anglicanism." These three works were the most influential in defining Anglicanism in the second half of the twentieth century. For a more recent, twenty first century take on Anglicanism see Paul Avis's work.