Cranmer's Church by Chuck Collins
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Chuck Collins
Rector
Christ Episcopal Church
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Chuck Collins’ book, Cranmer’s Church, is available for purchase at Christ Church. He writes in the introduction: “The chapters of this book were written over the twenty-five years I’ve been a priest. They were written to address issues about our history, the theological underpinnings of Episcopalianism, and more practical matters of why we worship the way we do and what membership means… There is also in these chapters more than a hint of wanting to defend what is being challenged in our day by those who don’t care much about our history or our corporate Anglican identity.” All proceeds from the sale of Cranmer’s Church will benefit the Anglican Diocese of Jos, Nigeria.
This is what others have to say about Chuck’s book:
This lively and enlivening introduction to real Anglicanism speaks loud and clear to those who want to be serious with the Bible and its God. It is a forthright recall to the things that really matter.”
J. I. Packer, Author and Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Regent College, Vancouver, Canada
“Cranmer’s Church is a winsome, easy, serious and also popular intro to the Episcopal Church – written with the traditional church goer and inquirer in mind. It is not the usual pabulum that most primers like it sadly are!! A most refreshing, even uplifting alternative.”
Paul F. M. Zahl, President and Dean of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, Ambridge, PA
“Dear Chuck – You’ve done an excellent job, and made this whole message accessible to lay folk and people coming into ECUSA. May it be widely used, and congratulations.”
Peter C. Moore, retired President and Dean of Trinity Episcopal
School for Ministry, Ambridge, PA
“Chuck Collins has written a most important introduction not only to the Episcopal Church but also to the theology under girding it. It is not heavily written, but the scholarship of the author is clearly evident. When I first saw it, my immediate response was to say I wish every confirmation class in the Episcopal Church could have this as their basic workbook.”
Terence Kelshaw, Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande
“Chuck has presented in this book an honest introduction to Anglicanism and a simple presentation of the saving truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a recommended reading for every Christian who desires to know more about the faith we confess.”
Benjamin Kwashi, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Jos Nigeria
“It’s excellent, though without being detailed; thoughtful without being boring; and it breaths wisdom and experience. I believe it can be extremely helpful to a new generation of Anglican Episcopalians.”
John Yates, Rector The Falls Episcopal Church, Falls Church, VA |
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| To order a copy of Cranmer’s Church, call Cherelle Liddle at 210-736-3132 or email cherellel@cecsa.org. The cost of the book is $10 per book plus $2 each for postage. |
From the Introduction:
Thomas Cranmer is my reluctant hero. There were good reasons to title this book something else: Wycliff’s Church, Richard Hooker’s Church, Queen Elizabeth’s Church or C.S. Lewis’ Church. There was also reason to not name this after any one person because, unlike Lutherans and Presbyterians, this church does not rally around the personality and thoughts of a single individual. But Cranmer was the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the newly formed Church of England and a leading architect of Anglicanism. He didn’t particularly want the job, was ill equipped for the responsibilities, and was not an intellectual or charismatic giant like the great reformers. His greatest gift was as an organizer rather than an original thinker. But as its spokesman, Cranmer gradually helped steer the Church of England through rough waters into Protestantism... He is remembered here for his courage to question the hollowed traditions of his day and follow the leading of his reformed heart.
—Chuck Collins |
