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Reservation under Pressure: Ritual in the Prayer Book Crisis, 1927–1928

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2016

Ian Machin
Ian Machin*
Affiliation:
University of Dundee
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Extract

The Prayer Book controversy of 1927-8 was not merely ‘the echo of dead themes’, as was alleged by A. J. P. Taylor. Disputes between Evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics, which lay at the root of the crisis, were still at a height in the 1920s and 1930s. Anglo-Catholic confidence was shown in their vast Congresses, commencing in 1920 (and lasting until the 1960s), and in the celebrations and publications which marked the centenary of the Oxford Movement in 1933. Such confidence naturally caused Evangelicals and Broad Churchmen to look to their defences. Moreover, while in England anti-Romanism was less marked than before 1914, in Scotland it reached a high (if belated) peak in the 1920s in reaction to Irish Catholic immigration.

Type
Research Article
Information
Studies in Church History , Volume 35: Continuity and Change in Christian Worship , 1999 , pp. 447 - 463
Copyright
Copyright © Ecclesiastical History Society 1999

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References

1 Taylor, A. J. P., English History, 1914-45 (Oxford, 1965), p. 259 Google Scholar.

2 Pickering, W. S. F., Anglo-Catholicism: A Study in Religious Ambiguity (London, 1989), pp. 48–63 Google Scholar.

3 G. I. T. Machin, Politics and the Churches in Great Britain, 1869 to 1921 (Oxford, 1987), pp. 70-86, 234-55; O. Chadwick, The Victorian Church, 2 vols (London, 1966-70), 2, pp. 311-12, 319, 324; A. Wilkinson, The Community of the Resurrection: a Centenary History (London, 1992), pp. 104-17.

4 I owe this information to Dr Nigel Yates, who is preparing a full-scale study of Ritualism.

5 Pickering, Anglo-Catholicism, pp. 61-2; note by Archbishop Davidson, Feb. 1926 (London, Lambeth Palace Library, Davidson Papers [hereafter DP], 455, fols 162-3).

6 Bell, G. K. A., Randall Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury, 2 vols (Oxford, 1935), 1, pp. 454–61 Google Scholar; Joynson-Hicks, W., The Prayer Book Crisis (London, 1928), pp. 89–90 Google Scholar.

7 Machin, Politics and the Churches, pp. 317-20.

8 Bell, Davidson, 2, pp. 1327-35.

9 Chronicle of the Convocation of Canterbury, 7/vi, pp. 3-31 (7 Feb. 1927). Cf. draft of Davidson’s speech, dated 28 Jan. 1927: DP, 450, fols 48-80.

10 Bell, Davidson, 2, pp. 1331-3; H. Hcnsley Henson, Retrospect of an Unimportant Life, 2 vols in 1 (London, 1943), 2, p. 162.

11 Chronicle of the Convocation of Canterbury, 7/vi, p. 13 (7 Feb. 1927).

12 Ibid., pp. 16-17; A. Hastings, A History of English Christianity, 1920-85 (London, 1986), pp. 203-5.

13 Chronicle of the Convocation of Canterbury, 7/vi, pp. 17-18 (7 Feb. 1927).

14 Ibid., pp. 23-4, 27.

15 For Barnes’s view on this subject, see F. A. Ircmonger, William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, his Life and Letters (London, 1948), p. 348.

16 Chronicle of the Convocation of Canterbury, 7/vi, pp. 73-162 (division lists, pp. 158-61) (29-30 March 1927); Bell, Davidson, 2, pp. 133 5-6. For some of Sparrow Simpson’s views on reservation, see his speech in Convocation, 28 April 1920 (Chronicle of the Convocation of Canterbury, 3/v, pp. 336-42). See also Darwell Stone, ed., The Deposited Prayer Book, by a Group of Priests (London, 1927); F. L. Cross, Darwell Stone, Churchman and Counsellor (London, 1943). p. 176.

17 Bell, Davidson, 2, p. 1340; Fox, A., Dean Inge (London, 1960), p. 215 Google Scholar.

18 Bell, Davidson, 2, pp. 1336-9; memo, of Davidson, 7 March 1927 (DP, 451, fol. 76); Joynson-Hicks-Davidson, 18 March 1927 (ibid., fols 144-5); Davidson-Joynson-Hicks, 21 March 1927 (ibid., fols 156-8).

19 Bell, Davidson, 2, p. 1340; Fox, Inge, p. 215.

20 Bell, Davidson, 2, p. 1339.

21 Lockhart, J. G., Cosmo Gordon Lang (London, 1949), p. 303 Google Scholar; Waldron Smithcrs, MP- Lang, 12 July 1927 (DP, 452, fols 191-2); Lang-Smithers, 15 July 1927 (ibid., fols 193-4). See also Lang Papers (London, Lambeth Palace Library), 57, fols 274-90.

22 The Times, 10 Dec. 1927, p. 13. Cf. ibid., 9 Dec. 1927, p. 10 (letter from Lord Daryngton).

23 Davidson-Ronald McNeill, 10 March 1927 (copy); DP, 451, fol. 93.

24 Garbett, C., Church and State in England (London, 1950), pp. 212–13 Google Scholar.

25 From leaflet issued by the League of Loyalty and Order in support of the Prayer Book Measure: DP, 452, fol. 22.

26 ‘A further appeal to the Bishops with reference to the Revision of the Prayer Book’, enclosed in Revd E. G. Bowring and H. Fowler (Secretaries to the League of Loyal Churchmen) to Davidson, 10 Jan. 1927: ibid., 450, fols 11-12.

27 Kensit-Davidson, 13 Jan. 1927: ibid., 450, fol. 15. Cf. Kensit-Davidson, 21 Feb. 1927 (ibid., fols 217-18); Joynson-Hicks-Davidson, 24 Feb. 1927 (ibid., fols 249-53).

28 11 Feb. 1927; DP, 451, fols 103-5.

29 Hinde-Davidson, 2 March 1927 (ibid., fol. 31); 14 Oct 1927 (ibid., 453, fol. 200).

30 Rcvd G. Dcnyer-Davidson, 14 Mar. 1927; ibid., 451, fols 124-9.

31 Memo, of 11 July 1927; DP, 452, fol. 173. Cf. Revd G. Denycr-Davidson, 14 July 1927 (ibid., fols 189-90), giving more details about this scheme.

32 Memo, of 11 July 1927; ibid., 452, fol. 173.

33 The Times, 13 Dec. 1927, p. 9.

34 British Weekly, 8 Dec. 1927, p. 278.

35 Baptist Handbook, 1928, p. 191. Cf. Revd M. E. Aubrey (General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland) to the Secretary of the Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament, 15 Sept. 1927; DP, 453, fols 58-62.

36 Letter from Viscount Wolmcr in The Times, 9 Dec. 1927, p. 10.

37 The memorandum was sent to Davidson by Revd Arnold Pinchard, Secretary of the English Church Union, 1 March 1927; DP, 451, fols 22-4. Cf. Revd L. A. Matthew- Davidson, 9 Sept. 1927 (ibid., 453, fols 48-50).

38 Circular letter from Davidson, 22 July 1927 (ibid., 452, fols 207, 253, 260-2); Bishop of Bath and Wells (St John Wilson)-Davidson, 24 July 1927 (ibid, fol. 253).

39 Dixon-Davidson, 7 Nov. 1927; ibid, 454, fol. 47.

40 E.g. Revd E. Swords-Davidson, 11 Feb. 1927 (ibid, 450, fols 153-4); Revd H. W. Blackmorc-Davidson, 11 and 17 Feb. 1927 (ibid, fols 146, 173).

41 Iremonger, Temple, p. 351.

42 Revd C. Harris-Davidson, 24 March 1927 (ibid, 451, fols 238-9); Revd F. Underhill- Davidson, 25 March 1927 (ibid, fol. 245), 19 Aug. 1927 (ibid, 453, fols 33-5), 27 Sept. 1927 (fols 100-2).

43 Lidgctt-Davidson, 11 July 1927 (ibid., 452, fol. 271).

44 12 Dec. 1927, p. 15.

45 Simpson’s address as Moderator to the Free Church Federal Council, on The Free Churches and the New Prayer Book’, 19 Sept 1927; DP, 453, fol. 86.

46 Ibid., fol. 89, also fol. 92; and note of discussion between Simpson and Davidson at Lambeth Palace, 6 Oct 1927 (ibid., fols 191-3).

47 Dale-Davidson, 31 Oct. 1927; ibid., 454, fol. 314.

48 Bell, Davidson, 2, p. 1342.

49 Parliamentary Debates (Official Report), 5th scr. [hereafter Hansard]: House of Lords, 69 (8 N0V.-22 Dec. 1927), cols 771-93.

50 Hastings, English Christianity, pp. 205-6.

51 Hansard (Lords), 69, cols 793-807, 815-17, 852-9, 866-79, 895-903,937-51, 957-68.

52 Ibid., col. 844.

53 Ibid., cols 844-5.

54 The Times, 1 Dec. 1927, p. 16.

55 Hansard: House of Commons, 211 (28 Nov.-16 Dec. 1927), cols 2531-40; P. Williamson, ed. The Modernisation of Conservative Politics: the Diaries and Letters of William Bridgeman, 1904-35 (London, 1988), pp. 211-14. For the debate see Bell, Davidson, 2, pp. 1345-6; Locknart, Lang, pp. 304-6.

56 Hansard: House of Commons, 211, cols 2543-4.

57 Ibid.

58 Ibid., col. 2549; H. A. Taylor, fix, Viscount Brentford (London, 1933), pp. 253-60.

59 Fox, Inge, p. 216.

60 Bell, Davidson, 2, p. 1346.

61 Hansard: House of Commons, 211, cols 2560-7.

62 Hansard: House of Commons, cols 2571-8, 2603-7, 2620-5, 2637-48.

63 Ibid., cols 2615-20, 2648-52, 2597-603, 2632-7.

64 Garbett, Church and State in England, p. 213.

65 Hansard: House of Commons, 211, col. 2559.

66 Ibid., cols 2578-92.

67 Ircmongcr, Temple, p. 352; Church Times, 23 Dec. 1927, p. 743.

68 Hansard: House of Commons, 211, cols 2627-9.

69 Ibid., col. 2652. See also S. Ball, ed. Parliament and Politics in the Age of Baldwin and MacDonald: the Headlam Diaries, 1923-35 (London, 1992), pp. 135-7 (also pp. 143, 148-9).

70 The Times, 20 Dec. 1927, p. 16.

71 Davidson-Lang, 29 Dec. 1927 (DP, 454, fols 270-3); Marquess of Salisbury-Davidson, 30 Dec. 1927, and enclosures (ibid., fols 286-301); also correspondence in DP 455, fols 1866, and London, Lambeth Palace Library, Minutes of the Council of the English Church Union, 18 April 1928.

72 Copy of letter, ‘Anglo-Catholics and the Prayer Book’, 31 Jan. 1928 (DP, 454, fol. 117); Chronicle of Convocation of Canterbury, 7/vii, pp. 1-5, 31-8 (speeches of Frere and Kidd), 94-5 (speech of Sparrow Simpson) (28 March 1928).

73 D. Stone, The Prayer Book Measure and the Deposited Book, 2nd edn (London, 1928), pp. 10-11.

74 Declaration by the League of Loyal Churchmen and Protestant Alliance, 25 Jan. 1928: DP, 455, fol. 118.

75 Joynson-Hicks, The Prayer Book Crisis, pp. 140-56.

76 Hansard: House of Commons, 218 (5-22 June 1928), cols 1003-1139, 1197-1324.

77 Ibid., cols 1121-39, 1197–1211, 1230-41; Taylor, Jix, Viscount Brentford, pp. 261-6.

78 Bell, Davidson, 2, pp. 1347-51; Lockhart, Lang, pp. 307-8; Garbett, Church and State, pp. 214-15; explanatory memo, on ‘Prayer Book Measure, 1928’, March 1928 (DP, 455, fols 194-5).

79 Quoted in Hastings, English Christianity, p. 206.

80 Chadwick, O., Hensley Henson (Oxford, 1983), pp. 203–8 CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Norman, E., Church and Society in England, 1770-1970 (Oxford, 1976), pp. 342–5 Google Scholar; Henson, H., Disestablishment: the Charge Delivered at the Second Quadrennial Visitation of his Diocese (London, 1929)Google Scholar.

81 Norman, Church and Society, p. 342.

82 Cecil-Davidson, 18 Dec. 1927, enclosing memo, of that date: DP, 454, fol. 211.

83 Hastings, English Christianity, p. 207; Birkenhead’s letter reprinted in full in Church Times, 23 Dec. 1927, pp. 749-50.

84 Lockhart, Lang, pp. 309, 33 8-40; Garbett, Church and State, pp. 218-26; Bell, Davidson, 2, pp. 1358-9; Jasper, R. C. D., George Bell, Bishop of Chichester (London, 1967), pp. 165–200 Google Scholar; Pickering, Anglo-Catholicism, pp. 62-3.