Cranmer's career set within the intellectual and theological context of 16c England. Fascinating collection of essays - Cranmer's career is set within the context of European politics and religion and his contributions to English liturgy and theology. The scope of the various essays is wide, encompassing his intellectual relations with Erasmus and Luther, his period of ambassadorial service on the Continent, his remarkable command of the English language at one of the most important periods in its development as a vehicle for intellectualand religious debate, and his extensive redrafting of a new code of law in place of the old ecclesiastical canon law. NOTES AND QUERIES Dr PAUL AYRIS is Director of Library Services at University College London; Dr DAVID SELWYN is Reader in Ecclesiastical History, University of Wales, Lampeter.

Self-serving lacky, self-deceiving puppet, Swiss Protestant partisan, or sensible Erasmian humanist: which, if any, was Thomas Cranmer? For centuries historians have offered often bitterly contradictory answers. Although Cranmer was a key participant in the changes to English life brought about by the Reformation, his reticent nature and lack of extensive personal writings have left a vacuum that in the past has too often been filled by scholarly prejudice or presumption. For the first time, however, this book examines in-depth little used manuscript sources to reconstruct Cranmer's theological development on the crucial Protestant doctrine of justification. The author explores Cranmer's cultural heritage, why he would have been attracted to Luther's thought, and then provides convincing evidence for the Reformed Protestant Augustinianism which Cranmer enshrined in the formularies of the Church of England. For Cranmer the glory of God was his love for the unworthy; the heart of theology was proclaiming this truth through word and sacrament. Hence, the focus of both was on the life of on-going repentance, remembering God's gracious love inspired grateful human love.

“In Treasures of the Anglican Witness: A Collection of Essays, Dr. Chimela Samuel has given us a wonderful gift, dedicated to helping the faithful understand the rich legacy of prayer book spirituality by highlighting the contributions of such Anglican greats as Cranmer, Hooker, and Herbert. What is unique about Chimela’s approach is that in doing so, he offers a compelling argument for the importance of pastoral ministry in the Anglican tradition. Interwoven with his scholarly overview he concludes each chapter with recommendations and implications for the contemporary Anglican church. This is particularly timely given the discipleship crisis that is endangering younger generations and the future of the church. He issues a persuasive call for a return to our Anglican roots by way of a proper understanding of catechesis and how to enhance the teaching ministry of the church through appropriate processes of discipleship. In doing so he gives some very practical answers to why we do some of the things we do as Anglicans. It’s rare to have a piece of writing that is scholarly in nature, but also an instructive devotional tool for Anglicans throughout the worldwide communion. His collection of essays are an inspiring witness to the treasures we have in Anglicanism.” — Dr. Leslie F. Thyberg

The Tudor era (1485-1603) was one of the most culturally significant periods in history. Under three generations of Tudor rulers, the era witnessed the advent of humanism, the birth of the Reformation, and the rise of the British Empire. The literature of the period is marked by complexity of thought and form and reflects the political, religious, and cultural changes of the era. This reference book surveys the literature of Tudor England. Included are alphabetically arranged entries for nearly 100 authors who wrote between 1485 and 1603. Some figures covered are widely taught, such as Shakespeare, Donne, and Spenser. Others are less well known, such as Edward Fairfax and Abraham Fraunce. The work includes entries for notable women writers of the period, many of whom have been neglected until recent years. Also included are entries for continental writers such as Ariosto, Tasso, Calvin, and Erasmus, whose writings were influential in England. Entries are written by expert contributors and contain valuable bibliographies of primary and secondary sources. Included are entries for nearly 100 people who wrote between 1485 and 1603. The entries are written by expert contributors and are arranged alphabetically to facilitate use. Some of the authors profiled are major canonical figures, such as Shakespeare, Spenser, and Donne. But the volume also includes a significant number of entries for women writers, whose work has been unjustly disregarded until recent years. While most of the authors were from England, the volume contains entries on figures such as Erasmus, who, though born in another country, wrote important works in England, and on writers such as Machiavelli, Calvin, Ariosto, and Tasso, whose works were almost immediately adopted, translated, or otherwise made part of Tudor culture. Each entry provides a brief biography, which is followed by a discussion of major works and themes, a review of the author's critical reception, and a bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

What does "gospel-centered" worship look like for today's church? Scholar, worship leader, and songwriter Zac Hicks contends that this idea can be found in Thomas Cranmer's theology of worship, which was shaped by the Protestant principle of justification by faith alone and reflected in his 1552 edition of the Book of Common Prayer.