Customer Reviews (17)

New Comer Episcopal
As a new comer to the Am. Episcopal Church, I had many questions about the method and rites of worship. This small volume has proved an excellent starter book in understanding some of the history & liturgy, as well as the beliefs and methods of worship of the Episcopal denomination without going into deep evangelical or philosophical treatise. It is not meant to serve as an evangelical tool, but as a beginning book of instruction. I highly recommend this little volume to get started in understanding the ins & outs of the Episcopal worship service and church.

Welcome to the Episcopal Church
Being an Episcopalian for over 50 years, this author provides a very comprehensive overview from the founding to almost current day, very well written for a newcomer or for a refresher.

Easy read, fairly good representation.
Welcome to the Episcopal Church, is a very easy read and a fairly good representation of the Episcopal Churh of the USA as it is today.It describes well the 'middle way' of Anglicans in general, and does artfully skip around the specific political issues currently being discussed within the Church.The reader should be cautioned that there is wide variety within the ECUSA regarding some of the doctrines outlined and, depending on your diocese, actual experiences will be either more protestant or more catholic.For a more scholarly history of the ECUSA and the Anglican Communion, I would recommend Ye Are the Body, by Bonnell Spencer or the writings of Charles Chapman Grafton.Of course, if you really want to learn more about the ECUSA, pick up a copy of The Book of Common Prayer.

A lightweight summary
The Rector at the church where I recently have taken a position allowed as how there are really no good summaries of Episcopalian beliefs. I read this book first and am now delving into Hatchett's Commentary on the American Prayer Book. This book is really Episcopalianism lite. It is, however, possessed of an annotated bibliographythat would perhaps be more useful if the author's other works took up less of it. It is not necessarily an easy read because of the weightiness of the subject matter but it is interesting and might be handy as a gift to someone making a general inquiry into what it means to be an American Anglican.

Restored My Faith in Christianity
Christopher Webber's book "Welcome to the Episcopal Church: An Introduction to Its History, Faith, and Worship" should really be read by all Christians not just Episcopalians or those actively seeking to convert.Before reading the book, although nominally Catholic, I had lost faith in institutional Christianity.I couldn't help but see all the major branches as doctrinaire and contradictory to the spirit of Christ's teaching on earth.

However, the Episcopal Faith (within the larger Anglican Communion) demonstrates a way that a faith can be practiced communally while still helping people.The other beauty of the book is that it is honest with the humanity and the shortcomings of the Episcopal Church.

Ultimately, it did not just give me faith in the Episcopal Church (I am seriously and prayerfully considering practicing my faith in the Episcopal Church), but let me see the essential unity of the entire Christian Church (believing basically the same thing).The Body of Christ does exist on earth, even if it needs to recover from illnesses from time to time.I would like to just send a thank you Christopher L. Webber, you truly have fulfilled your faith's obligation to ministry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Welcome to Sunday
I am a life long Episcopalian and found this book full of useful information. I highly recommend this book for every
Episcopalian or for someone wanting to learn about the Episcopal Church.

Clear Concise, Informative
My wife and I are former Methodists who have attended an Episcopal church for the past 18 months.We are attracted by the Eucharistic service but don't wish to "check our brains at the door", as would be required by the Bishop of Rome.I bought this book because I wanted basic information on the background and meaning of the service we so recently found. The book didn't disappoint me. The author explains the traditional architectural styles and floor plans, the roles of the Ministry and the Laity, and the Christian year as it is observed in the Episcopal church.The author systematically works his way through a typical service, explaining in adequate depth for all but the budding theologian, the origins and meanings of each part.He also discusses trends within the church, for example, to include more elements of the Eastern Orthodox service.Each chapter ends with questions for thought and further discussion.This would make it a great book for an adolescent or adult discussion group. If you want a book to explain the Episcopal (Rites I and II) service in a methodical and easily understood fashion, this is a great start.

It happens every Sunday...
Christopher Webber's book, 'Welcome to Sunday', is an excellent companion to the volume 'Welcome to the Episcopal Church'.Together, these books often form a curriculum of sorts for inquirers' classes, confirmation classes and new member conversations.This particular volume, as the title suggests, concentrates on the Sunday worship experience, the centre of most every church.

The Episcopal Church is the official version of the Anglican Church (Church of England) in the United States.For historical reasons, after the American Revolution the Church of England in America could no longer remain the Church of England -- the tendency toward national autonomy among Anglican church structures generally holds true as a pattern today.

Webber's first chapter looks at architecture and space considerations.Most Americans are familiar with basic differences in church design depending upon denomination.The Episcopal church actually has a wide variety of architectural styles incorporated into their many churches, but there are some patterns that generally hold true (with exceptions, of course).Most Episcopal churches can be noted by a red door -- red draws attention to the entrance.Episcopal churches will almost always have the altar as the centre element, with a pulpit raised but to the side.The baptismal font is always somewhere, but again design can locate it almost anywhere.

The chapter on ministry talks not only about the three-fold ordained ministry of bishops, priests and deacons as well as the ministry of the laity.The Episcopal church has been in a mode of recovering the importance of lay ministry, but there is still a long way to go in that regard.Webber compares the ministry definitions of the four orders as laid out in the catechism of the Book of Common Prayer and as they appear in the New Testament scriptures -- alas, a visit to any Episcopal church on any Sunday, however, will show the sharp contrast and division of types of ministry.

Webber's chapter on how to worship looks at practical pieces such as posture, prayer positions, silences, vestments and clothing, and other physical aspects.One of the more confusing aspects for newcomers to Episcopal churches is knowing what to do and when, and sometimes following the congregation does not quite work out well.There is a lot of ceremony, and a lot of 'doing' in the church, which reflects the incarnational aspect as well as the sacramental aspect of the church.

Webber's final three chapters look at the liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer.The church year discusses the differences in the seasons (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost) as well as saint's days and ordinary time.The final two chapters look at the structure of the liturgy in its two primary pieces -- ministry of Word and ministry of sacrament.Both follow patterns adapted from ancient sources that involve the reading aloud scripture, singing (congregational, choir and celebrant), recitation of faith contained in creeds, and the performance of the Eucharist.Webber's descriptions here are precise without being overly technical, and are useful as descriptions in instructed Eucharists.

Each chapter ends with a series of questions for further thought and discussion, which makes this a useful text for use in small groups and classrooms as well as personal instruction.Worship is the heart of the church, and as Webber states, it is where the church begins.God does not need us to worship (indeed, God does not need anything from us), but we worship and praise nonetheless to God's glory. This book tells how this special group of Christians called Episcopalians set about the task with reverence and care.

Great Introduction to Sunday
This book serves as a short introduction to the Episcopal Church's Sunday service.As a newcomer to the church, this book helped me understand "what was happening" during Sunday Eucharist (communion).The author writes with sensitivity and openness.I'd also recommend "Welcome to the Episcopal Church" (same author) as an excellent more general introduction to the church's history, beliefs, and practices. ... Read more

Book Description
This revised edition of the classic text on Episcopal Church history brings the story of the Church up-to-date with a new chapter on the 1990's. This new chapter pays special attention to the Church's renewal efforts, Presiding Bishop Browning's time in office, the issue of homosexuality, changing leadership dynamics, liturgical change, and Lambeth 1998.

"A truly inclusive story of the church's life in the USA and overseas. The attention to women, African-Americans, Native-Americans, and hearing-impaired, and also to those of recent 'lifestyles' is well done."
-The Rev. Samuel M. Garrett, Professor Emeritus Church Divinity School of the Pacific

Robert W. Prichard is Professor of Church History at the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Informative
I found this to be a very good summary and overview of the history of the Episcopal Church.I learned more about how the church was formed and developed than from other history books of the Episcopal Church.

great book
A great look at the history of the Episcopal Church, and one that provides the basis for delving deeper.I was handed this by my rector when I asked about the history of our church.Not too many years later, I found myself in seminary, on myway to becoming a priest.Add to that, my instructor was the author of this book!

A good introduction
Robert Prichard's `History of the Episcopal Church' is one of the more accessible of church histories available on the official Anglican version of the church in the United States - the Episcopal Church, sometimes called ECUSA, whose official name, the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, is a bit of a tongue-twister.

Despite the fact that many people came to the Americas for religious freedom (and one of the churches against which they were rebelling was the Anglican church), the Anglican church arrived on American shores very early, with the establishment of colonies on the southern coast of North America (Virginia, the Carolinas), which had official sanction by the Royal authority, and thus official ties to the official church.However, this was a strange situation for Anglicans to find themselves in - while still the official state religion and dominant group back home, they were outnumbered by other immigrants to North America by a significant margin, and this did not even count the numbers of Native Americans.Continuing immigration from non-Anglican parts of the British Isles (Scotland, Ireland, and non-Anglican English and Welsh) caused religious ambiguity in colonial social life and governance also in the New England settlements, which had prior Dutch Calvinist colonies already.

Prichard traces this beginning through the Great Awakening, which had Anglicans experiencing internal difficulties, and the Revolutionary War period, where many Anglicans were viewed with suspicion for their ties to the Royalist cause.One of the difficulties caused for Anglicans in America by the Revolutionary War was a suspension of formal ties to the Church of England, where bishops had to swear allegiance to the crown, something the newly independent Americans were not willing or able to do.The consecration of Seabury took place therefore under the auspices of the Anglican church in Scotland, who required as covenant for their transference of episcopal orders the acceptance by the new institution in America of certain liturgical forms, such as the prayer of consecration from 1549 rather than the more common 1552.

This also represented the period of the growth of Methodism, with the figure of John Wesley prominent in the activity - Prichard states that while the Methodist movement grew out of and had respect for the Anglican traditions and institution, the only Anglican clergyman whose authority they accepted over themselves was that of John Wesley.Prichard's discussion of the strands that came from earliest Anglicanism is interesting for the future development of various denominations in America, and shows how much common lineage the Christian community in America shares.

Prichard's text continues with discussion of the mission and expansion period of American growth, the Civil War period, the settlement of the West and looking toward foreign missions, the Depression and War periods, and finally the second half of the twentieth century with its period of institutional strength, shifting theologies, and prospects for renewal.

In each of these sections, Prichard draws upon a variety of historical resources.He does not confine himself to looking simply at events, institutions, or personalities, but weaves these together as they are necessary to achieve an overall narrative story.Liturgical and theological shifts are discussed but not fully developed (this is not a theology or a liturgy text); attendant events and developments in the general history of the United States are brought in both for context and for influence.

There is a generous assortment of illustrations - line art, wood cut and photographs - as well as tables of information (dioceses admitted to the church as states were admitted to the union, etc.).There are no maps, which might in a few instances have aided the discussion.There is a useful index.Each chapter has a series of endnotes immediately following the chapter, but there is no general bibliography or list of selected readings.

In general, this is a very good text for learning the history of the church in the United States.There are occasional mis-statements, and occasional omissions one might quibble about, but on the whole, it is accessible, readable, and useful for the general reader and student.

Just the facts, ma'am
Oh my.The back cover of Prichard's *History* correctly says that "many people today are looking for a history of the Episcopal Church that is brief, comprehensive, easy to read, and inclusive."But the book lacks all of these qualities except possibly the first (depending on whether you consider a 300+ page book "brief").

To his credit, Prichard does try to cover the history of the church in America, taking us from the first years of colonization up to the election of Frank Griswold as Presiding Bishop.This is a formidable task, and Prichard is to be commended for giving it a go.

Having said that, however, three things about the book are troublesome.First, I'm afraid that it's written in the dryest style imaginable, bringing back unpleasant memories of standardized textbooks struggled through in high school.

Second, it's more of a rather breathless compendium than an integrated history.By that, I mean that the approach is rather positivistic:history is presented as little more than one fact after another arranged in chronological fashion.There's very little attempt to weave these facts into a broader context or to show interrelations between them.As a consequence, the social context of the church is all but ignored.Instead, Prichard focuses ad tedium on the institutional development of the church.This is obvious an important part of its history.But how informative or fruitful for the general layreader is a history of General Convention?

Finally, Prichard never makes any systematic effort to tie together theology and history.He focuses exclusively on the institutional church but ignores its spiritual progression.As a consequence, the account seems, at best, lopsided.To give but one example:on pp. 188-89 Prichard writes of William Porcher DuBose, arguably the greatest episcopalian theologian of the 19th century.But he mentions him primarily in reference to an historical debate about church structure, and throws in only a one-line aside about DuBose's incarnationalist theology.This refusal to weave spiritual and institutional history renders Prichard's work rather soulless, if I may use that word in this context.

The book is worthwhile as a quick reference for dates and events.But I'm afraid that a popular history of the Episcopal Church still remains to be written.

An excellent introduction and handy reference
This book is a revised edition of Prichard's work originally published in 1991. According to its preface, the author particularly rewrote the tenth and eleventh chapters, adding sections discussing the development of the Episcopal Church in the last decade of the twentieth century. This update helped me enormously to understand the current situation of the Church as I read it just before the General Convention that the Episcopal Church held in Denver, Colorado, this summer.

This book is very readable. It contains many illustrations, which are quite helpful. Compared to David L. Holmes' _A Brief History of the Episcopal Church_ (1993), Prichard narrates the history mostly chronologically and not thematically. He discusses different theological trends that existed in the Church, and follows their interactions and developments. He talks of the changes in women's status in the Church. He neither leaves out the Church's works among ethnic minorities nor foreign missions. The author touches many other historical events as well as important figures. These facts makes the book an excellent introduction and handy reference to the history of the Episcopal Church. ... Read more

Book Description
If you listen closely enough to teenagers, you'll hear their deep yearning to connect with God, and a powerful instinct to belong. And you'll find out right away the one thing they really hate—being preached to.

Here in My Faith, My Life, teenagers learn all about the Christian faith they've been baptized into - and the Episcopal Church that offers them a spiritual home. With lively writing that's always informative and never condescending, the book gives them all the basics they need to know to understand their faith - and claim it as their own.

Closely linked to the Book of Common Prayer, My Faith, My Life covers everything from scripture, church history, and sacraments, to the meaning of prayer and ministry in the lives of real teens today.

This is the essential handbook for teens in the Episcopal Church - an excellent resource for confirmation classes, youth study groups, and high school Christian education programs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Book Study
This is a great book for a book study with teens.We've been working out of it for over a month and our kids are so enthralled and it has generated wonderful discussion.

Helping our youth get their own grasp of their faith
My wife and a good friend and I are leaders for the J2A group at our parish, and we have been working with these fine young folk for almost three years.Our great desire is that they find or strengthen their faith by attending worship services regularly, even in churches; by communicating and communing with the others in the group at church and at school; and that they build for themselves a strong foundation from which they can take that leap into faith, not necessarily onto which they may fasten themselves and become hidebound.

Ms. Gamber's book has turned out to be a wonderful resource for us, both the young people and their leaders in the group, with the great help of our Rector.We have every hope that they will all make the decision to go through confirmation this summer.

An Excellent Introduction to the Episcopal Church
This book is really perfect as a preparation for confirmation, but it is by no means for teens only!It is a very readable, comprehensive and well-organized introduction to the Episcopal Church.I very much enjoyed reading it, and the adults in confirmation classes also praised it highly.I certainly recommend it to anyone who wants to know about the Episcopal Church--from whence we came, how we worship, what we believe, how the church is organized, and how we see our place in the Anglican Communion.

Director of Christian Formation
I heard about this book over the summer, ordered one for myself and after looking at it, ordered one for each teen in our church.The teens are enjoying it, learning a lot and so are their parents who have read it!The teachers like it too!All of us are learning things we never knew before.I highly recommend this book for teen Sunday School or as an aide in Confirmation classes for Episcopalians.

An Excellent Guide - and not just for teens
I bought this book for my 16 year old Godson.Kevin has spiritual depth, has been steadily involved with the Episcopal Church for about five years, and has a jumble of knowledge about the Church.My Faith, My Life is just right for Kevin.It sorts out the Christian faith, as understood in the Episcopal Church, the role of Scripture, the centrality of the Trinity for Episcopalians, the history of the Church, and the common practices of Episcopal liturgy.The language is clear and concise, written with teenagers in mind, in a friendly, easy style.It will be a pleasure to give the book to Kevin.

At 183 pages, My Faith, My Life is a well-written, complete, and understandable introduction to the Episcopal Church.While right as an introduction for teenagers, it should prove just as valuable for adults seeking to understand the Episcopal Church.It provides provides the basics, a clear framework for understanding both the spiritual church and the organizational church.The framework should make it easier to integrate the sermons, lessons, readings, and other experiences in the Church into a consistent theology and sense of mission. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Only Episcopalians need reply
This is quite a good bookfull of explanations ofwhy the priest wears purple in Lent and green in July and other liturgical facts and fancies. A tour de force for Episcopalians. We thrive on this sort of stuff.

Definitively helpful
Can you tell the difference between the ICEL and the ICET?Does a Lay Reader perform the Laying on of Hands?Do you know what EDS, CDSP, ETSS and 'General' have in common?What is fair about Fair Linen?

The answers to these and many other questions can be found in this book, 'An Episcopal Dictionary for the Church'.It is an encyclopedic dictionary, spanning nearly 600 pages of text (many dictionaries are more of a handbook variety, with brief definitions and far fewer pages).This dictionary has a roster of over thirty contributors from the length and breadth of the church, and a bibliography that is well over a hundred items in length.

Even with the number of pages, there are a few omissions.There is no entry for lavabo, for example; there are many definitions and descriptions that relate to vestments, church elements and architecture, music and liturgical elements, but every so often I find a term that is not included.Despite this, the book remains perhaps the most comprehensive single-volume dictionary available for Episcopalians and other Anglican types.

In addition to the more dictionary-definition types of entries, there are brief article-style entries on major concepts and theological issues.These are often not of concern to Episcopalians alone (terms such as 'baptism' and 'salvation' are included as entries), but these are set in a more Anglicanised context.There are also brief biographical entries on major figures in Episcopal history, broader Anglican history, and yet broader Christian history that ties in more closely with the Anglican heritage (this includes a good number of saints from the early church).

Because of its encyclopedic quality, it is very readable and holds the attention well.Although the entries aren't directly cross-referenced, they do lead well into one another, and invariably I find that whenever I am looking up a term, person or thing, I spend a great deal of time reading and skimming, learning yet more that I didn't know before.

So, if you want to be certain of being able to tell your apse from your Elohim, this just might be the book for you.It is a valuable reference tool for any Anglican or Episcopalian, and I find new things in the book each time I open it.

The title says it all -- A User-Friendly Reference
I found this to be a great reference book, with well written articles across a broad variety of topics on the Episcopal Church and Christianity in general.Ive already given away my first copy, and I can't wait to getmore copies. ... Read more

Book Description
From birthday cakes and anniversary dinners to summer vacations at the beach, each family has its own ways of marking the days and seasons of its life. For the Christian family—especially Episcopalians—it's no different. With an array of colors and an assortment of rich traditions, Episcopalians move through the Church year, marking the days and seasons that tell the story of Christ in our lives—in history and today.

This book—written for newcomers to the Episcopal Church as well as lifelong members—takes readers by the hand and leads them through the Church year, from the first Sunday of Advent through the last Sunday of Pentecost, answering questions like "Why do we use purple in Lent?" and "What does Maundy Thursday mean?"In an easy-to-read conversational style, Welcome to the Church Year introduces readers to the traditions of the Church seasons and explains why we do what we do.But it does more than offer interesting trivia about church vestments and pageantry. Its insights can help readers participate in the liturgies of the Church year in a deeper, more meaningful way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Time after time...
Time is a tricky thing to deal with theologically.There are elements of repetition, and elements of once-only.In our church experience, we look back on the once-only kinds of events (both historical and revelatory) through a cyclical pattern that has varying spans; perhaps the most significant is that of the church year, which follows the progress of the seasons, allowing for variation, but also adding stability to the way in which we as a community approach God and the narratives surrounding God's action in the world.

As Vicki Black states, there are two primary cycles in the church year.The first is the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle, and the second is the Lent-Easter-Pentecost cycle.Traditionally, the church year is said to begin at the first Sunday of Advent.This day is always the fourth Sunday before Christmas; while Christmas is always December 25, the variability in the calendar means that the actual date for the beginning of Advent changes from year to year.This cycle continues through the Epiphany, after which 'ordinary' time takes place until the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday.('Ordinary' time refers to the fact that these weeks are numbered with ordinal numbers - second Sunday after Epiphany, etc., and not to the fact that they are outside any of the greater seasons of the church.)

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls on different dates in different years, dependent upon the date of Easter.Unlike Christmas, which is fixed on the calendar (which is the Roman solar calendar still in primary use in the world), Easter shifts from year to year, as it is pegged to the Jewish celebration of the Passover, which is governed by a lunar calendar.Lent lasts for 40 days (exclusive of Sundays) until Easter.Holy Week is technically a part of Lent, but has different colours and aspects as things go up to Easter; the Easter season continues until the feast of the Pentecost 50 days later, at which time the church goes into the second, longer period of 'ordinary' time, until the advent of the next Advent season.

Black discusses each of these six elements (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany and Lent-Easter-Pentecost) in separate chapters, along with a special chapter on Holy Week, and an introductory chapter.Black's development is personal, in that she discusses how she incorporates this into her family with her husband and son; she also allows for variations of practice in different parishes and dioceses.There is a minimum of technical language here - the text is very accessible, yet doesn't 'talk down' to the reader.It is both engaging and inviting.

The book can be used by a discussion group at the church - despite the division into eight chapters, it could easily be used as a Lenten discussion book or for an inquirer's class to learn aspects of the church year.There are potential discussion questions listed at the back of each chapter.The book itself is rather short and easily read in a short time, but can be useful as a reference throughout the year, too.

This is part of a series by Morehouse Press, which also includes 'Welcome to the Book of Common Prayer' (also by Vicki Black), 'Welcome to Sunday' and 'Welcome to the Episcopal Church' (both by Christopher Webber).All of these books are great as introductions to the ways (sometimes mysterious) Episcopalians do things in church - useful for newcomers as well as life-long members who might never have learned the 'why' behind what the church does.

The Mystery of Christ in Time
This book is a wonderful introduction to the ways that Episcopalians/Anglicans both celebrate and remember the redemptive work of God in Jesus and then in the Holy Spirit.It is a short work that is easy to read, and includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter, making it idea for small-group discussions inside and outside of church.

Vicki Black is a deaconess in the Episcopal Church, USA.She writes as a fellow Christian on the way, as well as someone who has truly lived the Church Year and pondered its meaning deeply in her heart.One of the most personal elements of the book, however, is that she also writes as the mother of two young boys.Throughout the book she discusses different ways that she and her husband have sought to make the different feasts and fasts intelligible to her elder son (who was 5 years old at the time this book was written) so that, rather than being diverted by Santa Clause and the Easter bunny, he might see Christ more clearly.

There are seven seasons in the Church Year: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter to Pentecost, and Pentecost/Trinity.At the heart of it all is the belief that Christmas did not simply happens 2,000 years ago, but happens now, "in the mystery of God choosing to dwell within humankind, a mystery that transcends all time" (p. 5).While discussing the seasons, Black discusses the development of both universal and local traditions, the history behind the seasons, the current liturgy in the Episcopal Church, USA, as well the Biblical readings and themes that permeate each season.A truly holistic worldview emerges.

I began reading this book shortly before Christmas Eve (so, while still in the season of Epiphany), and just finished it today, December 31, 2005.While America as a secular nation will celebrate tomorrow as "New Year's Day", I learned that in the Western Church, we celebrate tomorrow as the "Feast of the Holy Name".While in the secular arena, Christmas is just one day, I learned that for Christians, Christmas is a season that lasts for 12 days: from Christmas day to Epiphany (Jan. 6).

What has been opened up for me in reading this book is a sense that regardless of whatever national days or natural seasons are going on around me, there is a "higher" time that constantly is turning to God's own redemptive activity.It both fills the heart and the mind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Brief History of the Episcopal Church
I enjoyed reading this book by David L. Holmes. He goes into great detail about the Episcopal religion, and its history from the Anglican Reformation to the present. He not only tells when some Anglican traditions started but what other religions were doing during the same time frame. This book has given me a real hunger for doing more research on the Episcopal Faith

Fair and Caring History Gives Context to Modern Church
Dr. David Holmes's Brief History is important reading for anyoneinterested in the Episcopal Church, being engaging in its style and tone,comprehensive in its coverage, and useful in its bibliography.Dr. Holmeshelped me, an Episcopalian of 30 years, make fair and caring sense of themany currents of religious thought that I first learned about in the late1960s, and to place them into their historical and theological contextsboth within and outside the Episcopal Church.Those currents too oftendivide and discourage rather than unite and uplift us, and we Episcopalianscould argue a lot less (even about liturgy and music!), or at least arguewith more community, if we learned the historical facts and the gentlysuggested lessons that this book can teach us.We also might come awayfeeling more kinship, not only with other Episcopalians whose views we maynot share, but also with other denominations, with whom we share more thanmany of us (including this reviewer) probably know.

A "brief history" that will appeal to many
Good history pairs accurate facts with clear analysis.Great history addsfresh ideas, compelling personal accounts, and a genuine passion for thesubject matter.In this engaging book on the Episcopal church, DavidHolmes has written history of the best kind.

As a professor at theCollege of William and Mary, Holmes commands knowledge of both churchdevelopment and European and American history.Yet his simple, directlanguage makes complex topics clear to readers unfamiliar with churchhistory or religious studies in general.His research also makes Episcopalhistory relevant to a wide range of audiences.

In a chapter entitled "TheGrowth of the Episcopal Church," Holmes chronicles the church'spost-Colonial development.The diversity in this section shines.Withfascinating detail, the author describes Anglican attempts to evangelizeNative Americans, touches on foreign missions, and writes about the effectof immigration on the church.

Holmes also deals deftly with the role ofAfrican-Americans in the church, beginning with the baptism of anAfrican-American family at Jamestown in 1623.He objectively describes thechurch's response to slavery and the Civil War, and explains the subsequentdisaffection of many African-Americans from the denomination.

Finally,Holmes brilliantly chronicles the little-known role of women in areas suchas missionary work and the social gospel movement.The book tells thestories of several women affected by the national debate over women'sordination in the 1960's and 1970's.

Even without the detailed and livelyhistory that comprises its six main chapters, Holmes's book would be worthreading for its fascinating appendix, which chronicles Henry VIII's questfor an annulment from Catherine of Aragon.In an exceedinglywell-researched account, Holmes balances historical detail with humaninterest drama that will captivate readers of all levels.

With livelyprose and compelling analysis, this "brief history" will be a delight forscholars, laity, and history buffs alike.

Church History that reads like a good novel.
David L. Holmes's A Brief History of the Episcopal Church is an outstanding tour through the history of the Episcopal church, from its earliest days to the present. In fewer than 200 pages Holmes covers a wide range of persons, groups, and subjects and does so with flair and wit. He writes in an inviting and approachable style that combines sound scholarship with the insights and intuitions of a seasoned and highly effective college professor.

Holmes successfully incorporates discussions of liturgy, theology, polity, and architecture into the story, while giving attention to women and men representing a range of ethnic and social backgrounds. In so doing he relates the history of the Episcopal church to that of the larger society in a way that makes church history come alive. The author draws readers into the rich history of the Episcopal church and Anglican tradition through a narrative style that is insightful yet balanced, engaging yet informative. For example, his treatment of "Henry VIII's Quest for an Annulment" helpfully discusses this event and its effects within the context of its time.

The book is accessible to a wide range of individuals, from general readers to students of Episcopal church history. Holmes's Brief History can be used successfully in both classrooms and churches. It will be welcomed by teachers, students, libraries, and others interested in Episcopal or American church history. Here is one example of a brief church history that is informative, fair, and a pleasure to read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A great little book!
What this book lacks in size, it makes up for in content and information!

A wonderful tool to those interested in learning more about the Episcopal faith tradition, beliefs, and rites/practices.A bit too basic for someone whom is active in church and has a full and comprehensive working knowledge of Episcopalianism.

Highly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

The sign outside the conservative, white church in the small southern U.S. town announces that the church is part of the Episcopal Church--of Rwanda. In Anglican Communion in Crisis, Miranda Hassett tells the fascinating story of how a new alliance between conservative American Episcopalians and African Anglicans is transforming conflicts between American Episcopalians--especially over homosexuality--into global conflicts within the Anglican church.

In the mid-1990s, conservative American Episcopalians and Anglican leaders from Africa and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere began to forge ties in opposition to the American Episcopal Church's perceived liberalism and growing toleration of homosexuality. This resulted in dozens of American Episcopal churches submitting to the authority of African bishops.

Based on wide research, interviews with key participants and observers, and months Hassett spent in a southern U.S. parish of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda and in Anglican communities in Uganda, Anglican Communion in Crisis is the first anthropological examination of the coalition between American Episcopalians and African Anglicans. The book challenges common views--that the relationship between the Americans and Africans is merely one of convenience or even that the Americans bought the support of the Africans. Instead, Hassett argues that their partnership is a deliberate and committed movement that has tapped the power and language of globalization in an effort to move both the American Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion to the right.

Customer Reviews (3)

Nothing Else Like It, But Could Have Been So Much More
There is nothing else in print that covers the same territory as Miranda Hassett's "The Anglican Communion in Crisis," not even Philip Jenkin's "The New Face of Christianity:Believing the Bible in the Global South."In an era of global shifts and realignments within the Anglican Communion, this is a timely book, and I'm glad I read it.

Hassett's book is obviously an updated version of her doctoral dissertation in anthropology from UNC at Chapel Hill.It focuses on events in the Anglican Communion from 1992-2002, and has been lightly updated to include subsequent developments.Hassett's strengths include a focus on fieldwork (largely in Uganda) and a remarkably even-handed approach to thorny theological and political issues.(She admits in a footnote that she is personally pro-gay rights, yet is willing to criticize the excesses of the liberal wing of the Episcopal Church when it is warranted by her fieldwork data.)She also makes insightful comments, which often are contrary to prevailing wisdom, about the nature of globalization and about Philip Jenkins' thesis of a global religions shift.

However, it could have been so much more.The organization of her book is somewhat choppy and structurally unclear; her prose is frequently turgid and bloated; many of the references to globalization literature seem gratuitious and intended to satisfy her dissertation committee; and the updating of her dissertation to include events since 2002 is uneven.Her focus on Uganda is useful from a fieldwork perspective, and no dissertation can be expected to cover everything.However, developments in the Provinces of Nigeria and the Southern Cone, which have proven to be equally significant from a realignment perspective, are virtually ignored.

In short, limitations aside, Hassett's book is the best one currently available.However, the definitive account of the forces for realignment within the Anglican Communion has yet to be written.Indeed, the story itself has yet to be played out in history.Once she completes her divinity degree at the Episcopal Divinity School, perhaps Hassett herself can write such a history, as long as she remembers that less is more and tighter is more powerful.

Ignores basic factors
Amazingly, and for whatever reason, Hassett seriously downplays the part played by American, fundamentalist, non-Anglican, right-wing financial backing in the creation and ongoing support of the "crisis", which is far more about power than about theology.Particularly telling is Ms Hassett's frequent citation of David Virtue, a particularly virulent anti-gay blogger (his site, Virtue Online, is widely referred to in "liberal" circles as Venom Online) while ignoring or being completely unaware of Jim Naughton's "Following the Money", a definitive, excellently sourced study of the financing of American and African break-away groups by American right-wing individuals and groups.Naughton's study is available online, courtesy of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.http://www.edow.org/follow/.Read it.

How Globalization Twists Cultural Concepts and Understandings
This is a fascinating book. It goes beyond the superficial newsreporting to deal substantively with the undercurrent of issues impacting the Anglican Communion.

Hassett provides a detailed anthropological analysis of the issues undergirding the Anglican Communion, from extensive interviews and field work in a church within the Episcopal Church in the United States (ECUSA), which has been aligned with the "conservative" minority against the "Church", and from visits and interviews within the Anglican Church in Uganda.

As a non-Anglican that, nonetheless communes within the Episcopal Church due to my denomination's agreement with ECUSA, I read this book from my academic background in public administration and political science, and with background in teaching and research interests in international relations and comparative politics, and the impact of globalization. I read it from a certain built-in mindset that the situation of the Anglican Communion is a test case for how "states" would act in an environment not constrained by a convention such as the Peace of Westphalia. While the book basically confirmed that mindset, the palpable reaction I came away from the reading of this book is how pejorative terms, concepts, and ideas have become in a global political climate of polarized extremes. Just what exactly do "liberal" and "conservative"and "orthodox" mean? Do they mean the same thing in different cultures and within differing cultural contexts? It is true that we are living in a global age of exacerbated political speech, and, as a result, there has been a certain "assault on reason" (to quote the name of the book by the former US VP, Al Gore - The Assault on Reason). The heightened tenor of global political speech is certainly one of the by-products of the dynamics of globalization.

Hassett's thesis is that the context of the issues affecting the Anglican Communion are not just the result of the split between the church universal in the global north and south. This thesis, widely attributed to Philip Jenkins from his well-regarded work, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity, and his follow-up book, The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South, seeks to generalize all issues affecting Christianity as simply the result of the ascendance of the global south while Christianity in the global North continues to gradually decline. Hassett seeks to argue that there is a deep cultural context to the issues within the Anglican Communion, within specific African churches as well as within the ECUSA, while certainly not discounting the overarching impacts of the dynamics of globalization. She incorrectly infers that Jenkins' work discounts the role of culture, however. She does bring a deeper understanding, though, of some of the underlying precepts of cultural influences in the development of some African leaders' thought on the issues ongoing within the Anglican Communion.

This is a surprisingly balanced and very disciplined anthropological study that asks a series of very fundamental questions that could be the basis for future research. First, how do cultures define themselves within political discourse? Second, how can differing political discourse be ameliorated to allow for deeper cultural understanding, and, in the specific case of the Anglican Communion, spiritual and theological understanding? Third, specific to the context of the study, how can the tools of statecraft be used to bridge the differences within the Anglican Communion so as to avoid schism? Fourth, to return to a basic question of both theology and philosophy, what is "reason" and how can it be attained and maintained in a global climate that seeks to pull to the extremes as a result of the dynamics of globalization?

I think the greatest contribution of this study is the inference that deeper understanding of the cultural context of terms, concepts and processes (i.e., parliamentary procedure, which Hassett incisively notesas an issue because of the supposition that those in from "western" churches within the Communion are more skilled at these procedures than those in the churches in the Communion within the global south). It begs for further research by employing an oral history approach -- by listening to those actors in the dispute talk about what they do and what they believe and why, so as to infer ways to create bridges to understanding.

This is not a political tome. It is a serious work of anthropology that deserves wide readership for its discussion of cultural and political dynamics as much as the continuing "reasoning" within the Anglican Communion.The book's subtitle suggests that it leans towards the "Episcopal dissidents and their African allies". However, I do think that's a little misleading, particularly in the reading of Chapter 7, which details the "assymetry of money and transnational alliances".I think it would be a more accurate description to say that the actions within the Anglican Communion have led to a certain awareness of differences of opinion that could actually be the basis of a renewed and invigorated Anglican Communion. Calling the issues in the Anglican Communion a "crisis" I think is a bit disingenuous. The Anglican Communion, like many other denominations, is simply in search of greater reason that seeks to draw closer to God through Christ Jesus.

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Customer Reviews (4)

Couldn't be More Pleased
The item ordered though advertised as "used" was in A -1 condition and the order was shipped promptly.

Classic Hymnal
This is the Hymnal used in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States (ECUSA)from 1940 until 1982. It is reflective of the classic and traditional orthodoxy of that period. Though the hymnal has been replaced in ECUSA it is still used by many traditional jurisdictions of Anglicans in the United States. Some of the tunes are unfamilar and difficult to follow for those who are only acquainted with contemporary church music. However,any added effort on the part of the learner is rewarded in the richness of the recovery of these classic tunes. The theology is vibrant and sound. The binding of the volume is durable and the type is clear and readable. The 1940 Hymnal is a sound investment for any church or individual who desires to regain familiarity with traditional Protestant hymnody. For many of us in the "buster generation" these hymns have provided a connection with the transcendent we were looking for. Well worth the purchase.

Beautiful, enduring hymns
This hymnal is replete with example after example of the best, most beautiful, most intelligent congregational music Christendom has to offer, from ancient to modern. Happy is the church that sings these songs of praise and affirmation.

The Hymnal 1940, Standard Harmony Edition
Were you a choirboy?Did you get a copy of your hymnal or prayer book for perfect attandance at Sunday School?For two generations since the middle of World War II, the prize for many Episcopal choirboys was this book, TheHymnal 1940.Most hymnals are serious works of scholarship: laboriouslyconstructed by a committee appointed by the church to review, revise, editand augment its previous hymnals, they are then condemned to perpetualscrutiny and comment by its users. This hymnal was no exception; indeed,the similarly sized "Hymnal Companion," which dilated at lengthon each hymn, was published along with it.Now superseded by the 1982version, it is still considered a masterpiece and superior in severalrespects to its successor, in particular for its legibility, certain of itstexts, and its inclusion of some hymns dropped in 1982.By then the Hymnal1940 had been augmented to over 700 hymns and 160 pieces of service music. It contains several indexes by which a hymn can be located in severaldifferent ways, including the useful "metrical index," not afeature of every hymnal.The music ranges in age from the earliest yearsof the Christian era right up to the 1930's; so you will find most of yourfavorite classical composers represented.If you have other hymnals, youshould have this one.If you don't, this is about the best place to start. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

humble and humorous
It's pretty easy to make fun of Episcopalians but this little tome manages to do so with great charm and humility. I turned downpage corners thinking I would love tomemorize a fewof the delicious haikus and reel themoff at the appropriate moment at church and non church functions.I then realized I had turned down most of the corners of the book. These elegant little poems are funny but also quite sound spiritually. One per page. I was enchanted. The perfect confirmation, God child, graduation gift or just I had to get this for you no occasion present for the Episcopalian or main stream Protestant or enlightened Roman Catholic. A delight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Lift every voice!
Most visitors and regular attenders of Episcopal services will find themselves juggling two books through the service -- the Book of Common Prayer, the standard bearer for Anglican liturgy and identity, and this book, the authorised Hymnal, last revised in 1982.Many denominations revise hymnals in each generation -- this one has served the church well in the past two decades, and is likely to serve for at least another decade, perhaps two.The previous Hymnal, produced in 1940,was greatly revised in the present volume; the classic English hymnal Hymns Ancient and Modern also plays a significant part in this hymnal.

There are two primary sections to the hymnal -- service music (denoted by S--- numbers), and regular hymns.There are 288 pieces in the service music section (S1 - S288); these include Glorias, Te Deums, Fraction anthems, canticles, psalm tones, chant pieces, and more for all the major liturgies -- morning prayer, evening prayer, eucharistic services, and more.There are compositions by major composers past and present (Schubert, Willan, Sowerby, Rutter, etc.), as well as pieces of various chants (plainchant, Ambrosian, etc.)

The hymns, 720 of them, are arranged first for the Daily Office use (1-46), hymns appropriate to seasons in the Church Year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Ascension, Pentecost, Saints days and other occasions -- hymn 47-293), hymns for particular liturgies (baptism, eucharist, confirmation, ordination, etc.) and then a long section of general hymns (362-634).These hymns are arranged by broad theological topic -- The Trinity, Praise to God, Jesus Christ, Church, Mission, etc.The hymn section concludes with rounds and canons and some general national songs.

The collection of hymns is remarkable.There are hymns based upon scripture and psalms directly.There are hymns that come from the earliest centuries of the church, the medieval time, the Reformation, and all through the Anglican period proper.There is a generous collection of old standards and modern compositions, between Catholic standard-bearers and Evangelical and Protestant hymns.While some songs give only the melody line, this is in fact a rare thing; most include full-music scores, many even with a descant.

The book is well indexed, with lists according to composer/arranger/source, author/translator, tune names, and first lines/titles.Also, the construction of the hymnal is fairly remarkable.There are nearly a thousand pages here, but the book is not a thick volume; the pages, on the other hand, are not the obnoxious onion-skin, but rather substantial pages that stand up to years of use by many hands, as a hymnal will be used.

This hymnal is a remarkable treasure of hymns old and new, updated for modern times.It is the case that no hymnal satisfies all, even within particular denominations, and people grow remarkably attached to the hymnals with which they grew up; even with this being the case, this hymnal has achieved wide acceptance and admiration within and outside of the Episcopal church, and remains one of the major hymnals available of any denomination.

They squandered their chance to make a great Hymnal better!
This is a terrible Hymnal. The type is thin and difficult to read, and they start one hymn on the same page where another finishes rather than starting each hymn on it's own page. They've made the words *Gender-Neutral* (i.e. "Good Christian Friends Rejoice") and needlessly changed the wording on several hymns to make them more Politically Correct.

The group that compiled this sorry excuse for a Christian Hymnal had a wonderful opportunity to make the superb 1940 Episcopal Hymnal even better than it already was.Indeed, they did add a couple of good new hymns, but they also deleted far too many excellent hymns from the 1940 Hymnal.

All in all, it was a dismal collaborative effort by non-musical, politically-driven cretins. It is still in use by most Episcopal congregations today, perhaps partially explaining the disarray the Church finds itself in today.

Standard Hymnal for the Episcopal Church
This is the standard hymnal that Episcopalians use. This is the blue cloth edition, which probably graces the back of the average Episcopal Church pew. Inside this hymnal is a broad cross-section of traditional hymns, newer praise songs, and everything in-between. Many of the hymns are firmly placed within Catholic tradition, and were written by great theologians and hymn writers from ages past: Clement of Alexandria, Thomas Aquinas, St. Bernard, Francis of Assisi, and Martin Luther. There are also newer, more evangelical tunes. The variety demonstrates the varying beliefs within the church, but when these Catholic and Evangelical elements are combined, we have a substantial, yet living faith.

Each hymn is grouped according to the church season, such as Advent and Easter. Also, there are hymns listed by various themes, such as hymns for our nation. In the front of the hymnal we have the chants and hymns that make up much of the liturgical experience: the Agnus Dei (lamb of God), the Kyrie, the Alleluia, The Lord's Prayer, the Gloria in excelsius, the Trisagion (Holy, Holy, Holy). The Hymnal 1982 also includes more hymns and anthems than these. Each musical liturgical element is offered in both Rite I (older music) and Rite II (a newer, updated sound).

Overall, I cherish this hymnal. The music is always theologically deep and the songs are all well chosen. The songs are so varied that there is certainly an appropriate song available for each part of the service, and for different services entirely. For instance, once would choose a different hymn for a thanksgiving service, than for a service following a tragedy. For those who just want an excellent collection of deep and historic hymns, this book will work. For Episcopalians, this book has shaped, and will continue to shape, our community's worship of God.

This is a hymnal for all who like to sing.
...As a Roman Catholic who often cringes in church at hymns with smarmy lyrics and tunes which only a musicologist from a Catholic women's college could love, I envy our Episcopal sisters and brothers who get to use this wonderful book every Sunday. Not only does it include some of the best church music written in English, it also includes parts for many (if not most) of the tunes. I recommend this for Catholics who are frustrated by only finding the bare-bones melodies in the hymnals in Catholic churches (usually disposable "missalettes"). You can learn the parts from this book. There are some gems here: "St. Patrick's Breastplate" (the tune used in two of its verses is the oldest extent piece of Irish music), several GOOD modern hymns, including one by W.H. Auden, as well as many old tunes arranged by Ralph Vaughn-Williams, and a lovely four-part arrangement of Bach's "Wachet Auf" ("Sleepers Wake"). I use it to learn the parts at home, so that I can sing the tenor part for some of the hymns used in my own parish. It's a great resouce for anyone who loves to sing in church. ... Read more

Book Description
* The most up-to-date edition of the Constitution andcanon law of the Episcopal Church

* Fully searchable CD ROM

* Vigorous and consistent sales to congregations and individualsthroughout the triennium

The complete authorized version of the Constitution and Canons of theEpiscopal Church as revised by the General Convention of 2006, in a printedand fully searchable electronic edition.

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Customer Reviews (1)

"how-to" book
handy guide for all episcopalians,especially if your in a position of church leadership, or just want to know a little about how the wheels turn within every church ,within the national anglican community. slim,readable and accurate canons from 2006 national convention. I refer to this book quite often as a refresher. ... Read more

Book Description
This accessible commentary, based on The Revised Common Lectionary and authored by the Rev. Dr. H. King Oehmig, is specially designed for use by anyone who wants to get more out of liturgical Sunday Scripture readings, and is perfect for lay readers, teachers, and outreach of all kinds.Oehmig, creator and Editor-in-Chief of Synthesis Publications, is also author of the highly regarded books Between the Lines, Reflections on the Gospels Through the Church Year and Beyond the Words: Insights on the Gospels Through the Church Year. The Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor, author of Leaving Church, writes of Oehmig: "Week after week, Oehmig sweeps his meaning detector over packed-down texts and finds fresh treasure in them, largely by setting his dial to the frequency of the culture in which we live. As faithful to the Bible as he is to human life on earth, Oehmig makes surprising connections between the two ... and shows the rest of us how to do the same ... " ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Guide to understanding
A must-have aid for personal and group Bible study through the year.With reflections and questions. Comprehensive, RCL compatible and user-friendly.

This study guide is especially useful for the home-bound. ... Read more

Book Description
Owanah Anderson, longtime head of the Episcopal Church's office of Indian Ministry, traces the history of the American Indian/Native Alaskan communities as they encountered the Anglican Communion.Includesphotographs, some never before published. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Episcopal Missionary
A excellent book,wealth of knowledge concerning Indigenious peoples and the their dealings with the Episcopal church, a great resource for history buffs. Vast knowlege of how church leaders loved and dealt with the Native Americans of this country, If your into history of Episcopal missionaries of the early years of this country to the present, buy this book. ... Read more

Book Description
The Economy Edition is perfect for people who value a well constructed, reasonably priced prayer book. It is also suitable for mass distribution in schools and for use as a pew prayer book. Black hardcover binding, gold cross, Presentation Page, square corners. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Book of Common Prayer 1979
amazon is absolutely good choice for every buyer,not just only being honest to their commitment in terms of products and delivery.

but we can assure that our desired order will arrive safe & quality.

Great Prayers For Ecumenical Services
I have found this book to be of great value in my Ecumenical relations with other faiths.
I have also found for myself a deep spiritual renewal in reading this book.
I recommend this Book of Common Prayer to all that value the wisdom within other faiths.

Very Good!
Well, I can't rate the BCP anything but positive. My only concern was I failed to read the size of the book and it was smaller then I would have liked, the pages are thin, but at the same time feel very "strong." It has the Daily Office and the complete Psalter. If only I had read the dimensions, I am sure I would have opted for a larger addition. If you don't have problems with smaller print, then by all means purchase this copy, you can't be the price. Also the binding it very good, the book while small, lays flat, whch is a really nice in a hardcover book of this size.

Review of BCP
I was pleased with this book, as well as for the speed of delivery. Thanks.

the other good book
This book was so good, I used it in my wedding! ... Read more