ANGLICAN SPRING CLEANING
SIR.—Dr. Vidler rightly quotes me as pleading for 'a non-doctrinal, truly national Church,' but he adds with peculiar nastiness that such a Church 'is just what Hitler wanted.' He does not quote the words which seem to me vital: 'Instead of the obstacle course of Creeds, Catechisms and Articles, there should be a simple unelaborated profession of Christianity, combined with a declaration of loyalty to the Established Church.' Hitler, surely, was not very interested in either the profession or the practice of Christianity, and I cannot imagine why his name should have been brought into this controversy, unless to create prejudice.
Dr. Vidler also says: 'One would have more con- fidence in Lord Altrincham's competence to write about the Church of England if he had a quarter of Bishop Neill's knowledge of it.' This is a remark- ably foolish observation. Constructive change is seldom promoted by officials. Civil servants, for in- stance, have a very important function, but reform usually has to be thrust upon them by the en- thusiastic amateur. Christianity would never have come into existence if it had been left to the re- ligious 'expert.' The first-century equivalent of Dr. Vidler was no doubt saying that he would have more confidence in the ability of Christ's disciples to talk about religion if they had a quarter of the Scribes' and Pharisees' knowledge of it.—Yours faithfully.
47 Lowndes Square, SW)
All RINCIIAM
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